Saint-Nazaire recorded a painful home loss to Cannes with a score of 2:3 (26:24, 23:25, 22:25, 25:19, 12:15) and settled for just one point. After this match, the team occupies 11th place in the standings, ahead of Paris Volley, Chaumont, and Ajaccio, but missed an opportunity to pull away more significantly from the danger zone.
Vladimir Garkov was among the most stable players on the court for the hosts. The Bulgarian international finished the match with 15 points, a plus/minus of +7, 2 aces, and 45% attack efficiency.
Opposite Hitter Philip John scored 22 points, but even his strong performance was not enough for the final success.
Team Statistics
| Element | Saint-Nazaire | Cannes |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | 62 | 60 |
| Aces | 7 | 4 |
| Blocks | 10 | 16 |
| Opponent Errors | 29 | 28 |
The numbers clearly show where the match was decided. Saint-Nazaire had a slight advantage in attack and serve, but the difference in blocking (10 vs 16 point blocks) proved crucial. Cannes compensated for a weaker serve with excellent net play and, precisely in the decisive moments, shut down the hosts' attacks. The almost equal number of points from opponent errors suggests that the match was decided not by fluctuations, but by more effective defense and blocking from the guests.
Saint-Nazaire once again showed that it has the potential to challenge strong opponents, but the lack of stability in blocking and defense during key rallies continues to be costly. One point from such a match might prove important at the end of the season, but after such a development, the feeling of a missed opportunity remains.
