Illacais volleyball Coupe de France loss to Sète, Digi Mart USA News (France): Romain Sellier’s players leave the Coupe de France with their heads held high. They pushed the Ligue A side to the limit before Sète won 3-1.
On one side, the Illacais were determined to protect their unbeaten fortress at La Ruche and were highly motivated to claim the scalp of a Ligue A team. On the other, Sète were ready to finally start their season after four consecutive defeats in as many matches.
In a match that was somewhat unbalanced, the final result favored the visitors from Hérault, who had to battle hard to overcome a Girondins side more resilient than ever.
The first set was entirely in favor of the Ligue B side. They controlled an area where Sète were supposedly superior: serving.
Serves from Jimenez (3 aces), Tanga Mvilongo (2) and Gabin built the gap. The teams matched each other point for point until 15-15, but after that the Illacais took control, and the visiting coach’s two timeouts did nothing to stop the slide.
Sète conceded the first set 25-20.
The Ligue A players had to react, and they did so in a second set they dominated from start to finish. The score quickly swelled, due to a less clean reception and above all Illacais attacks that were too often blocked.
The score moved from 3-8 to 9-15 without difficulty. Jimenez no longer found a solution and ran into an impenetrable Henry, who recorded four blocks in the set.
The other attackers faced the same problem, and the gap grew to 10 points at 11-21. Sellier brought his bench on to rest his leaders, but Sète took the set uncontested 17-25.
The Girondins, however, were not traumatized and started the third set full of good intentions. The Abeille Girondine regained their confidence and technical quality.
Bernard stood out with very precise attacks, and his team pulled ahead 9-4 before conceding a 4-0 run that allowed Sète to level at 9-9. The teams then traded points, with ties following each other at 15-15 and 20-20.
At that point it was unclear who would crack. Momentum swung with each serve until 23-24.
American Marshman then ruined the hopes of the opposition with a spectacular ace, and his team led two sets to one.
The Illacais had no option but to equalize to earn a tiebreak. They threw everything into the fourth set.
They took it by the scruff of the neck, but the visitors quickly responded under the impetus of their hitter Schlienger and the best blocker of the evening, Henry, who recorded eight blocks. Nevertheless, Ripoche and his teammates fought like lions.
With each gap, they managed to pull level, 20-21. However, fatigue set in on their side, and Sète seized the moment to close the set 22-25 and secure both their qualification and their first win of the season.
