From the top of her 22 years, the Audoise native of Narbonne and confined with her parents in Gruissan took on another dimension in Alsace. The France team is also counting on her.
At 22, her maturity and steely mind have made Héléna Cazaute already considered one of the best French players.
Since March 16, she has been living in confinement with her parents in Gruissan, where she grew up. The only Frenchwoman this season to appear in the top 10 of the best receptionist-attackers in the women’s A league, the young Audoise confides.
The season ended abruptly due to covid-19. The federation has voted for a white season
What do you remember from this first year with Mulhouse?
There is a taste of unfinished business, we were first with only 4 losses. What is frustrating is that the best happened. There was the Final Four of the Coupe de France in Cannes and the play-offs of the championship.
Was the title of champion of France within reach?
Obviously, we thought about it, we believed in it even if nothing had been done. Nantes was second by one point, Le Cannet was the only team to have beaten us twice in the season. Mulhouse wanted this title which he won in 2017.
You have just extended your contract with the Alsatian club for one year, for what purpose?
The same objective as this year: the double cup of France, championship of France. We will also have the chance to play in the Champions League, we will try to get out of the pools.
What motivated you to continue the adventure in Mulhouse?
Already, in France, it is a very structured club, this is not the case everywhere else. Then, the leaders, the staff, the supporters are competent. It is a pleasure to play there. also a bitter taste with this stop of the season. I want to finish the job.
An experience abroad tempts me
If it hadn’t been Mulhouse, would you have gone to another French club?
No, it was either going back to Mulhouse, or joining a club in Europe, and an experience abroad tempts me. I’ve been thinking about it for a few years. The challenge Mulhouse offered me was interesting.
And the foreigner, is it Italy?
Yes. It’s a big championship, the cradle of women’s volleyball in Europe with Conegliano, Busto Arsizio, Scandicci and Novara. You have to have the level of play to claim to play there one day, which is why I joined Mulhouse the year last, to continue to progress and be able to leave in better conditions.
What do you expect from the France team, you who are considered a great hope of volleyball?
There is a great project that has just been set up by the Fédé with the arrival of a new trainer Émile Rousseaux (Editor’s note: Belgian coach). Finally, we are well taken care of and we now have enough to work in good conditions. We have all joined the project and we are all motivated. Since Émile Rousseaux is here (Editor’s note 2019), we really see the difference, the behavior of the players has changed. In the short term, the goal is to win the GoldenLeague. In the long term, it’s the Olympic Games in four years because we have not managed to qualify for Tokyo. Paris 2024 is in a corner of my head .
Even if you are only 22 years old, after volleyball, do you have any idea?
I have a bpjeps activities for everyone that I spent in Béziers 3 years ago. I will probably orient myself in the sport but I do not know yet.
Take over from mom and dad in Gruissan?
It could be a possibility too (laughs).
Landmarks
Héléna Cazaute (1.84 m, 76 kg) was born on December 17, 1997 in Narbonne.
She is the daughter of Régis president of VCGruissan and Anik, coach at the club.Héléna has two sisters, Charline (34) and Célia (30).
Clubs : Gruissan (2005-2013), Institut de volley à Toulouse (2013-2014), Béziers (2014-2017), Cannes (2017-2019), ASPTTMulhouse (2019 -….).
Post: receiving-attacker.
Awards: best receptionist in the European league (2016), winner of the Coupe de France (2018) and champion of France (2019).
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