By LNV
In Saforelle Power 6, Levallois Paris defeated Nantes in a tie-break (3-2) to be crowned French champion for the second season running.
It was said that this story would end in a rough and emotional battle. And in this game of mixed emotions, of volleyball at the end of the season, when fatigue and chills weigh heavily, it was the Mariannes of Levallois Paris who rose just a little higher than the Neptunes of Nantes, to claim a second consecutive French championship title against the same opponents.
And yet, as in the first leg, the Neptunes led two sets to one, always seeming capable of braving storms and squalls, and Halimatou Bah's early injury. There was verve on serve (10 Nantes aces), conviction in reception and Haylie Bennett (26 pts) seemed to want a different ending, a golden set at the very least.
But just as in the regular season, when the Mariannes, though sometimes heckled, always stood firm, Levallois Paris rose to the occasion for the umpteenth time. Perhaps less dominant and consistent than last season, Alessandro Orefice's girls always found the arm, the heart or the soul to pull themselves out of trouble. On Saturday, it was Canadian center Jazmine White (17 pts including 5 counters) who came to the rescue of the indefatigable tandem of Natalia Murek (20 pts) and Bianca Cugno (22 pts including 3 counters), when it was necessary...