The qualification in your pocket for the semi-finals of the “Play-off”, after its victory in Toulouse on Saturday April 12 (0-3), the Chaumont VB 52 Haute-Marne is now awaiting the identity of its opponent, and already projects itself to its next challenge.
It is a more than interesting performance that the Chaumont VB 52 Haute-Marne succeeded, Saturday April 12, in Toulouse, by completing its quarter-final of the “Play-off” in three matches, thanks to its victory (0-3) in the Haut-Garonnais lair. Even if the sword of Damocles weighed, it is true, more heavily above the head of the premises which, back to the wall, no longer had the right to make mistakes, it does not prevent the cevity to take up the challenge brilliantly, in a context not easy.
Starting with the fervor of the André-Brouat Sports Palace and its almost 2,500 spectators who have continued to push their favorites to try to carry them to victory. A formidable atmosphere that places today, the Toulouse gymnasium among the most “hot” in France, and which had already earned Joseph Worsley and his teammates, a regular season (3-2).
However, this time, the Chaumontais knew how to manage this particular context perfectly, displaying a lot of control and composure in the most delicate moments of the match. Thus, in an extremely disputed first set, the CVB 52 overturned the steam in the “Money Time”, while the Spacer’s had made the “break” at its entrance (21-19, then 23-25). Just as in the third act where, twice, the Toulousains have come closer to their guests on the display board, driven by an audience in molten, but in vain (13-17 then 16-17; 20-24 then 23-24).
A workforce to the point
On the other side of the net, the cévébistes have never cracked, finding in the coaching of their coach, Silvano Prandi, the good solutions at good times, or collectively, winning some crucial “rallies”. This is how the change of “passer/pointed diagonal” in the initial round was extremely beneficial, with the contributions of the duo “Toledo/Lietzke”, the first set up definitively on the field for the rest of the match. Without forgetting this “ACE” of Lohan Lefaivre in the third set (19-22), which undoubtedly made a serious blow to local ambitions.
The realism of Mathis Henno in counter-attack and the excellent performance of the central duo “Holdaway/Maase” were also essential in the Chaumontese qualification.
“It’s nothing! It is a necessary victory to achieve our goal which is the title “however warned the Italian technician Silvano Prandi after the success of his family. “We still have a difficult way to get there. »» Words that immediately placed the troops before their future responsibilities.
However, the Cévébis will have a little time to savor the saving of this first step, since twelve days now separate them from the first leg of the semi-final, the identity of the opponent still remains unknown. This Monday evening, Tourcoing will try to validate his ticket by a third victory against Poitiers. But in their Lawson-Body room, the Pictaves have not said their last word and are ready to extend the pleasure up to a fifth match.
Meanwhile, CVB 52 will already have its head and legs turned towards April 25: its next challenge.
Laurent Génin
Pierre Toledo: “I never really doubted! »»
JHMQUOTIDI;
Pierre Toledo (“pointed” of CVB 52): “I think we touched this new duel very well against Toulouse. We have always remained perfectly concentrated. Our strength came from our ability to manage our weak moments in this part. We never let Toulouse fully trust, preventing them from returning to the score or taking the advantage. We had good management of the event. »»
JHMquotidian: How have you lived in recent weeks more difficult for you?
P. T. : “I tried to manage this moment with lucidity. In all seasons, there are periods of “less well”. I knew you had to be patient and continue working. The good news is that during this time, sheikh (Diop) perfectly taken over. The team won and it logical is that it continues this way. I have never lost confidence. I talked about it with some of my teammates who comforted me in the fact that this period was going to end. I never really doubted. »»
JHMQUOTIDI: Your great entry into play on Saturday, she definitively erased this last period?
P. T. : “Each match has its truth. Today, I am happy to have found my sensations and have been able to help the team take their ticket for the semi-finals. It obviously gives a little more confidence for the future. But above all, this proves that our team has the solutions to overcome certain occasional meforms. »»
JHMQUOTIDI: Was this qualification in three games an objective?
P. T. : “Not necessarily!” In this second phase, the important thing is qualification! We were in any case prepared to play a fourth meeting if necessary. This is true, however, that by leading two sets to zero, we started to say that it would have been a shame to relaunch them by losing the third. »»
JHMQUOTIDI;
P. T. : “We will already recover and wait to know especially our next opponent. We will regain work and then prepare more precisely the new confrontation to come. Personally, I do not necessarily have any preference between Tourcoing or Poitiers. In both cases, the battle will be difficult and harsh. It will be the “last square” in the title race: the motivation will be the same for all the suitors. »»
Collected by LG
The opponent
Thomas Gill (Toulouse passer): “We leave these quarter-finals of“ play-off ”with a little bitter taste in the mouth. We failed to make the match we wanted on this third duel, at home. We came across a “big” Chaumont which, when it plays with this quality, is difficult to “take it”. I think there is nothing to say about the qualification of Haut-Marnais, on the whole confrontation. We will always have these regrets on the first meeting that we could have won in Palestra, but that’s so! The season stops for us, we will resume at the start of the school year by keeping a small framework of the current team, with the desire to continue to grow. We are fortunate to evolve in front of an extraordinary audience, which sends us a lot of energy. Hopefully we will be able to continue this progression during the next exercise. »»
Luke Masis and grind forms
Joseph Worresley (0 ATT. Sur 1, 0 CONT., 0 Ser., 1 faces you.): The “playing master” of the CVB 52 again feasted the gallery. Always so luciode, sometimes unpredictable, he chained the right decisions, adding a good quality of service.
Shane Holdaway (4 out of 5, 2 cont., 1 ser., 4 dirms): The American made good beginnings of “play-off”. On this third match, he was very realistic and very present, participating strongly in the domination of his family, especially in his center in the center.
Mathis Henno (13 Ant Sur 21, 0 CONT., 0 Ser., 8 Fautes you.): The young tricolor international has again played “service firefighters” in delicate moments. His effectiveness is a key asset for his team, like these “rallies” which he regularly concludes brilliantly.
Niko Suihkonen (4 out of 10, 0 cont., 0 ser., 2 dirms): The day after his birthday (26 years old), the Finn actively participated in the nice gift that his collective offered him. A qualification in which he actively took part, thanks to his natural determination and a certain authority in his decision -making, which gives him a certain significant assurance in these matches at stake.
Cheikh Diop (1 at 8, 1 cont., 0 ser., 2 dirms): The young “pointed” cevébist started the match, before being closed the door to the net increasingly regularly, worth a return to the bench.
Man of the match: Lukas Maase (11 Att. Out of 14, 1 cont., 0 ser., 1 fault dir.): With his Center Compass, Shane Holdaway, he formed a really interesting duo at the start of the “play-off”. The German has still made its power and its physique in the net, with a lot of activity, and a quality of service which can do some damage within the opposing reception.
Sebastian Closter (Libero): The Argentinian found all his energy and his potential, after two first trying matches for him physically against Toulouse. In front of his former audience, the Libero Chaumontais was very comfortable, clean and solid.
Pierre Toledo (8 out of 15, 1 cont., 1 ser., 4 faults dir.): The CVB 52 striker finally revived on Saturday evening. From his first scathing attack, at the end of the first set, he returned to orbit, finding all his sensations: real good news before the start of the semi-finals.
Nathan Lietzke : By taking over from his captain, the second cevated passer was very lucid, finding the right attackers at the right times and offering a very interesting spare solution.
Lohan Lefaivre (1 ser., 1 Fault dir.): Two entries in the service crowned with success for the young Chaumontais, in particular the second at the end of the third set, for an “Ace” which definitively cut the Toulouse hopes (19-22).
Jacob Pasteur (1 fault dir.): The American made a short appearance in the last set, without really weighing on the game of his team.
Results and program
Match n ° 1 (Friday April 4)
Chaumont – Toulouse 3-2 (25-23, 20-25, 23-25, 32-30, 16-14)
Montpellier – Cannes 0-3 (22-25, 22-25, 18-25)
Tourcoing-Poitiers 3-1 (25-23, 27-29, 25-21, 27-25)
Tours – Nice 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-21)
Match n ° 2 (Sunday April 6)
Montpellier – Cannes 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-22)
Tourcoing-Poitiers 3-1 (25-16, 20-25, 31-29, 28-26)
Chaumont – Toulouse 3-1 (25-22, 20-25, 25-18, 25-21)
Tours – Nice 3-1 (23-25, 25-12, 25-17, 25-19)
Match n ° 3 (Saturday April 12)
Cannes – Montpellier 0-3 (19-25, 16-25, 24-26)
Toulouse – Chaumont 0-3 (23-25, 17-25, 23-25)
Nice – Tours 2-3 (28-30, 26-28, 25-20, 22-25, 14-16)
Poitiers-Tourcoing 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 27-25)
Match n ° 4 (Monday April 14)
20 h : Cannes – Montpellier
Poitiers – Tourcoing
*Match n ° 5 if necessary on April 18.
