France bags first win in the preliminary round of 2011 FIVB World League – Volleyball news
Team France clinched their first victory of the 2011 FIVB World League by beating South Korea on Wednesday, June 29. The Palais des Sports Arena in the French city of Pau echoed the slogans of victory as the National team scored 3-1 (23-25, 27-25, 25-16,
and 25-15) against South Korea. After spending five unsuccessful weeks in the preliminary robin-round, the French team finally broke the ice and celebrated their first victory of the tournament. The approximately two hour match tested the temperament of both
teams, while France proved to better team and outshone Korea.
Match Overview
The guest team from Korea made a good opening in the match as they served well and a couple of aces helped them pick up the lead in the game. France started out defensively and brought in Gerald Hardy-Dessources and Antonin Rouzier to break the rhythm of
the Korean spikers. However, Koreans were not ready to step back and they kept on moving at the same pace and led the game for the better part of the set. Near the end of the first set, Korea got a perfect kill and closed off the win with 2-point margin.
Success in opening set allowed them to put pressure on the French side as Koreans produced confident shots and added quick points to their tally. Nonetheless, the hosts came up with solid blocking and strong offensive attack. They put up a valiant effort
and managed to turn the mood of the game. Korea’s Kwak Seung-Suk created trouble for the French side but the home team tackled his shots with great care. The game of hit and run continued but France achieved the set points at 27-25 and claimed the second set.
French squad opened the third set with powerful serves and built a lead over Korea. The resilient Koreans offered great resistance and pushed France behind at 11-10. France dug deep as the boys around head coach Philippe Blain went up and added consecutive
points to put an end to the tussle in the third set. Home squad pulled off success by nine points.
Korea threw everything into the attack in the fourth and final set. They struggled to hit the equalizer but France denied their efforts and did not allow them to come back up. France staged better play and finished the fourth set with a good margin of 10
points. It was the first time in 2011 FIVB World League, that French team walked away as winners.
Philippe Blain, the head coach of the French team talked about the match afterwards and said, "We start in this match with a lot of nervousness. We committed many faults but players bring the proof that the mental is very important. We were extremely successful
in block and it’s not our best. We took confidence as one goes along. We did a good performance but will have to confirm in Boulazac."
The skipper Nicolas Marechal agreed with his coach, however, he expressed delight that his side finished on top. Team France is now focused to continue with success and capture the second match of the last week of the round-robin.
Korean Captain Kwon Young-Min regretted the loss of the match and said, "It was a very important match but we lose its bad condition for us. So we prepare for the next game on Friday. We are very tired due to the jet lag."
France and Korea are scheduled to cross paths again in the last match of the preliminary round on Friday, July 1.
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