Castres Massaguel Volley-Ball secured a 3-0 victory against US Pontet Volley Avenir at the Lameilhé gymnasium for their opening match of the Nationale 2 season. Grégory Verscheure led the squad through a straight-sets win (27-25, 25-22, 25-18) against the newly promoted side, positioning the Tarn team near the top of the league standings.
Opening Match Struggles and First Set Win
The hosts faced an initial deficit before mounting a comeback to level the score at 19-19 in the opening set. Capitalizing on strong serving and defensive receptions during the crucial money-time phase, Castres edged out the Vaucluse visitors 27-25 to claim the first frame. The team featured a roster including team captain Salvage, along with Legaud and Saliadarre sharing libero duties, supported by Tangopi, Daniel, Estieu, Palau, Mellal, and Lallemand.
Maintaining Momentum in the Second and Third Sets
Following a similar pattern in the second set, Castres found themselves chasing the score early on before drawing level once again at 19-19. The team maintained composure under pressure to close out the set 25-22. Carrying a two-set advantage into the third, the local squad applied immediate pressure on Pontet, extending their lead progressively to finish the final frame 25-18 and secure all three points.
Coach Reaction and Upcoming Fixtures
“A promising victory with a complete match in all areas of play even if there are points to work on. It’s normal. This victory feels good in front of a large audience. Everyone enjoyed themselves. Let’s continue working,” said Grégory Verscheure, who managed the team alongside assistant coaches Olivier Merlhe and Fabrice Boem. Castres Massaguel Volley-Ball prepares to host St Etienne next Sunday at 15:00 for their next match at Lameilhé.
Related reading