Volleyball (AF League): the Burdis promise a controversial state of mind in Nantes

LThe journey is short but dangerous. The volleyball players from Bordeaux-Mérignac, as controversial as they appear in each of their matches, do not hide that it will be difficult for them to disturb the serenity of Nantes, the leader of League A, who won their matches all of it. season The Neptunes certainly got off to a rather difficult start, against Terville Florange, only winning in the tie series in their room. But since then, they have only lost three rounds in total.

Also, facing the problem of the mission, Guillaume Condamin established a specific road map for his protégés. “The goal is to come out of this game telling ourselves that we are going to achieve something,” he says. “We’re going to set goals that aren’t necessarily about results. We have to work on our mental state, because we didn’t necessarily approach Mulhouse very well. In addition, the girls identified this problem well. We need to arrive without stress, let go, have fun. » Eva Svobodova, Czech striker from BMV, joins her coach. “We don’t think in terms of points,” she slips. “We prioritize the joy of the game. Then you never know. Let’s see if we can put our opponents in doubt. »

“If we don’t put them in trouble, we have to deal with those in their place”

The problem will be the same as against Mulhouse, with top players on the other side of the net: the sharp American Haylie Bennet (1.86 m), the French international striker Halimatou Bah (1.87 m) and the American power Jessica Robinson (1.87 m). These three players earn at least 50 points in every game at Nantes. So Bordeaux-Mérignac has to tighten its defense as much as possible. Which makes Guillaule Condamin say: “If we don’t put them in trouble, we have to deal with those in their place,” he laughs. “Nantes will then enter management mode!”

Keep up the progress

Also coach Burdis expects his team to show a similar mentality to the one they showed in the third and fourth sets against Mulhouse, where the girls fought with heart and courage to try to take the right for yourself to play a tie-break. “In the first two sets against Mulhouse, we didn’t defend very well,” said Poitevin. “We were a bit passive. I thought we were caught in the act. In the next two sets, ambition and play there. I’m waiting for the state of mind they were showing in these two sets. This is what they want to reproduce.

Playing Nantes is also a good challenge for the Burdis. This allows them to play a high level game, to measure themselves. “We will fight and the result will come naturally,” continued Guillaume Condamin. “If we are given a small opening and there is a possibility to achieve a result, we will take it. » In any case, a loss would not question everything. “In this time when we can’t win games, we have to continue to keep what we have: happiness. It’s a little easier when you don’t have results. But we must continue to make progress and come out of each game saying to ourselves ‘we have achieved our goal’. We work on our concentration, we always try to improve our offensive and defensive system, to achieve these goals. Even if we come out pointless. »

The match

Nantes (1st/23 pts) – Bordeaux-Mérignac (8th/12 pts), this Saturday, November 16, at 8 p.m.