This Friday evening, the club dear to coach-president Nico Verrier hosted Dijon-Talant as part of the men’s regional volleyball championship. Still in search of a second victory, the ASPM had to do without the services of two of its injured players this week in training without this unduly affecting the confidence of a group which continues its learning in this level. Talant’s team discovered the high school gymnasium for the first time with a young and quality squad in which culminated the impressive double meter of an attacking receiver whose power at the end of the net would ultimately prove, decisive.
Under the leadership of Seb Riboulet on the whistle, well supported by Antonin Chevalier and Nadège Perrin at the scorer’s table, the match could begin in front of a sparse but attentive audience.
The ASPM then quickly took the game into its own hands thanks to the attacks placed by Anthony Develay and Ludo Perrin, repositioned in the center, which Talant had difficulty meeting. The Montcellian defense holds up and the reception is stable allowing Nico Verrier to pass with the line to his attackers who, like Ben Marcaud, are enjoying themselves. The locals lead the dance until they offer themselves a set point which they unfortunately do not materialize and let go of this round which will leave as many hopes at the moment as regrets afterwards (26-24).
The second round begins at the same pace with, on the Montceau side, an unchanged starting six which continues to play all the shots to the fullest even if Talant defends marvelously and most often relies on his Golgoth with overpowering attacks to complete the work. It’s a beautiful fight which the few spectators present then witness and which the referee manages intelligently, letting the game take place in a sporting and fair spirit on both sides. The ASPM is hanging on, proof that the work sessions concocted by the coach pay off even if they put a strain on the joints. The second round is finally Côte d’Orienne narrowly (25-21) while the 3rd set will be more of an opportunity to rotate the local squad, hence a larger gap (25-14).
Regardless, the ASPM is progressing and biding its time, which will come sooner or later. Lost sets are a lived experience which, in the long term, proves enriching despite the bitter taste they immediately leave on the defeated. And if the results are still meager, there is no doubt that the game now proposed by the Montcellians, united as ever, will allow them to approach the future with motivation and determination.
Once again, this wonderful sporting evening was concluded with a snack of which Bon Boeuf has the secret and which delighted the participants who were thus able to repeat the match in an atmosphere as friendly as it was relaxed.
The appetite always comes with eating and the Montcellian volleyball players are hungry for victories so the appointment is made on Friday December 6 at the high school gymnasium where this time it will be Fontaines les Dijon who will be welcomed and who could well bear the brunt of this clear return to form.
Manu B
