The Montpellier volleyball players were unable to do anything against the undisputed leader of League A

The Montpellier wall gave way in the face of the opposing offensive. Midi Libre Archive – SYLVIE CAMBON

In the Men's League A, Friday evening March 15 (25th day), the MHSC VB suffered the law of the undisputed leader of the championship, in Chaumont (3/0). He will have to wait for the matches this Saturday and the last day, next week, with the arrival of Nantes, to try to finish in the top 4.

"They are walking on water at the moment", summarized the ex-Cévebiste and Montpellier smuggler, Raphaël Corre, at the end of the match. It is also particularly inspired Chaumontais who are widening the entry gap.
Opposite, the Héraultais do not panic and, little by little, put their athletic game in place. Picking up the score as the minutes passed, the visitors even took control of the match when the Haut-Marne reception began to falter (15-16).
And while libero Ruiz Posadas leaves the field with a twisted ankle, his teammates maintain their heavy pressure on serve and make the difference just before “money time” (17-20). But in this very « physically, the Cévebists are not short of arguments, like their always very effective counter line (21-21). The two “aces” by Patrick Gasman then arrive at the best of times to make the difference (24-22), before Joseph Worsley imitates him with the same gesture: 25-22 in 26’.
The Montpellier residents get off to a good start in the second act (2-5). Time for CVB 52 to put some rhythm back into the game and Silvano Prandi's men logically get back on track (9-9). And when the Chaumontais take control on the scoreboard (14-13), the turnaround is important for the locals, who benefit from a long video refereeing in their favor (19-18). Former Chaumontais Raphaël Corre will try to delay the deadline on his services (24-23), but Niko Suihkonen's point gives the locals the set: 25-23 in 30.< br />The Héraultais visibly took a blow to the head (6-2). The level of play of the CVB 52 is impressive. Luka Marttila tries to boost his team (17-15). But individual outbursts can do nothing against the local collective game which will logically take the 3rd set, 25-17 in 23’.

The playoffs at stake

Montpellier will have to wait for the matches this Saturday and next week – 26th and last day of the regular phase –  to try to stay in the Top 4. For Arago, there is still hope of finishing 8th. To do this, the Sétois will have to take three points this Saturday March 16 (8 p.m.) in Nantes, hoping that Nice beats Paris in three or four sets. This is the only scenario that would allow a “final” between Sète and Paris, for the last day, with a place in the playoffs at stake.

Technical sheet

Chaumont beats Montpellier, 3/0
Palestra Complex.
Details of sets: 25-22 (in 26’), 25-23 (in 30’), 25-17 (in 23’).
Referees: MM. Lecourt and Morchoisne.
CHAUMONT: 45 winning attacks, 5 winning blocks, 7 winning serves, 16 unforced errors.
Starting six: Worsley (5), Marshman (6), Suihkonen (8), Cardoso (12), Gasman (8), Indra (18). Libero : Closter.
Enter. : S. Prandi.
MONTPELLIER: 34 winning attacks, 9 winning blocks, 3 winning serves, 18 unforced errors.
Starting six: Reichert (9), Demyanenko (12), Corre (1), Le Goff (9), Martilla (8), Dimitrov (6). Liberos: Quiot and Ruiz Posada. Entered into play: Palacios, Tizi-Oualou, Gomez (1).
Enter. : L. Le Marrec.

I subscribe to read more