Winners away on the first day (3-1 against France Avenir 2024 in Béziers), the Pirates got the championship off to a perfect start. And if there is one player who stood out a week ago, it is Julien Bernard. Arriving this summer from Saint-Quentin (League B), the receiver-attacker panicked the statisticians against the young people from the National Volleyball Center with 17 points, 4 aces and 2 blocks. These figures allowed him to be voted best player of the meeting.
This great performance does not turn the Ile-de-France resident’s head – “it is above all the performance of the team that must be highlighted”. At 27 years old, this 1.97 m player is not the type to be euphoric: “We must not forget that everyone must perform against this youth team. » After touring France (he played successively in Plessis-Robinson, Rennes, Fréjus, Saint-Brieuc and Saint-Quentin), Julien Bernard set his sights on the Royan project. “The enthusiasm that there is here impressed me when I played with Saint-Quentin last season… And then the very honest speech of the president-passenger David Guelle seduced me, too,” confides one who had spent vacations in the area.
Regular in League B
The young man from Montfermeil had discovered volleyball thanks to his big sister. “Indeed, I had followed Manon (who is a professional in Ligue A in Béziers, Editor’s note) and I quickly loved this sport,” underlines the neo-Royannais, who is also a web developer: “My post-volleyball job “. Delighted to have joined Royan – “you realize, the club even found a job for my girlfriend! » – Julien Bernard wants to do everything possible to achieve a season “as successful as the previous one”. He intends to bring his experience to the maritime collective “because I have practically always played in League B”.
“Having a player-president is interesting because the transparency is real”
Even if the overall context of the drastic reduction in subsidies plunges the group into a certain worry, the Ile-de-France resident remains calm: “Having a president-player is interesting because the transparency is real. » Amazed by this RAVB “who takes care of his players like never before”, Julien Bernard is looking forward to getting to know the Pirates volunteers better. But when we talk about the arrival of Cambrai, this Saturday (8 p.m.), he displays great caution: “They lost 0-3 at home against Fréjus. Beyond the defeat, it was the score that surprised me. I am convinced that everyone can beat everyone. We are motivated and really want to make a success of our first at home. »
Petro package
Apart from Tchéni Petro, injured in his finger, all the players are available. Belgian receiver-attacker Martin Lallemand, recovered from a sprained ankle, will start on the bench.
Royan 3rd/3 pts – Cambrai 10th/0 pts
Lieu Royan (Espace Cordouan) Hourly Saturday, at 8 p.m. Referees 2000 Paillat and Sawrei
ROYAN Guelle, Oriol (c), Boyomo, Abdelhedi, Bernard, Paulin, Faustino, Pasquier, Chaillou, Chaussende, Vieux, Lallemand Absent : Petro (finger).
