After 3 weeks without playing, due to cases of covid, and before a busy and decisive month of April, the Istres volleyball players returned to the courts this evening against Cannet. They still showed incredible resources to go to the tie-break. They can be proud of their superb comeback but will regret having a match point.
It was not the Cannes Film Festival but we had a real festival tonight against Le Cannet during the 24th day of Ligue AF. The match can compete for the Palme d’Or for best scenario. And the Italian coach of Le Cannet earned him the Palme d’Or for best actor. Because, beyond the very beautiful game proposed by the two teams, the image of the match will remain this stroke of blood from the Riviera coach in the 3rd set. Contesting a referee’s decision (Mammadova’s service outside but which would have touched André Sa’s foot), an angry Lorenzo Micelli made his team leave the field, shouting “we are coming home”. Finally after long minutes of sulking, 3 red cards and as many penalty points, the Azuréennes resumed the game. A match they won at the end of the tie-break suspense after saving a match point.
The Istreans can be proud even if they did not repeat their feat of last month against Cannet in the Cup (3/1 victory) because they delivered a big fight against the 5th in the championship and had very good reactions.
In this match, Istres also got off to a good start (3/0) but the Azureans quickly hurt with their services and their attacks, in particular from Stone and Reed (6/9, 11/15). Faced with the good resistance of IPV the Volero imposed its power (14/18). Beatriz De Graca Santos with 3 points in a row put Istres back on track (19/20). Le Cannet accelerated (20/23), Istres replied with an impassable Jessica Dalmann against (24/23). And Yasmine Abdherrahim finished the job by scoring her 7th attack of the set: 25/23.
Vexed, Le Cannet replied strongly from the start of the second set (0/3, 1/6). The Istreans recovered for a while (7/9) with a good collective work and Abdherrahim at the end. But, just after, they took a series of 6 points (7/15). The coach André Sa feared a loss of automatism because of the cut but it is physically that his players seemed to draw at that time. And the changes did not allow to revive a team then disorganized, which multiplied the faults and suffered the repeated aces of Yaneva (8/20). In this one-way set the Volero finished the job carefree: 11/25.
Istres offered the best in the 3rd set (5/1, 11/7) but once again suffered a big opposing series (12/13). Pauline Martin’s teammates did not let go so far (17/14). It was then that we had this coup de theater from the coach of Le Cannet. And if the match resumed, the Istreans were unable to build on their lead and the 3 penalty points for Le Volero (21/15). Revolted, the Azureans returned (23/18, 23/22). IPV had a set point (24/23) but ended up losing 25/27.
The 4th set gave a big battle (10/9). This time it is Istres overmotivated who knew how to make a good series to stand out (20/12). Le Cannet woke up, notably with two more aces from Yaneva (21/18), but the Istréennes did not crack this time by still showing incredible resources: 25/20.
Le Cannet started the tie-break better (0/3). Istres came back (5/5) and it gave a very stressful end to the match (6/8, 8/10, 8/12). The Istreans gave everything to turn the situation around and even got themselves a match point (14/13) but Le Cannet finally won. 14/16.
Yasmine Abderrahim finished with 27 points, Beatriz De Graca Santos with 17 points, Mary Kate Marshall 16, and Anna Lozowska 9. With 20 points including 5 aces, Yaneva was named MVP. Stone scored 19 points and Reed 15.
Video reaction to follow on this article in the evening. Do not hesitate to come back for the analyzes of André Sa and the libero of Cannet Amandine Giardino.
The images of the match Monday evening in the Journal des Sports on maritima TV
In the standings despite this good point taken, Istres found himself 13th and first relegated to a small point from Chamalières who beat France Avenir 2024 3/0 this evening.
The Istreans are now going to have a particularly busy month of April. They will go to Cannes on Tuesday, will receive Marq en Baroeul next Saturday, will go to Terville on the 10th then to Paris on the 13th this time in the Coupe de France, will welcome Mougins on the 17th, will go to Mulhouse on the 21st before a possible Final Four of the Coupe de France 24 25 still in Mulhouse …
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