Volleyball: Burdis fall to a resurgent VMA

There were tears on Sunday evening at the Palais des sports in Mulhouse, but unfortunately for the Burdis from Bordeaux/Mérignac, they were tears of sadness. After beating the Mulhouse giants in the first match and coming so close to eliminating them with two match points in the second match on Friday (eventually lost 18-20), they could not resist Volley Mulhouse Alsace, who found their form at the right moment.

“Once again, we were so close,” said Bordeaux coach Guillaume Condamin. “Last season, we faced Levallois Paris Saint-Cloud in the quarterfinals and gave them a run for their money. This time, it’s Mulhouse and we fall in the decisive match. That’s just how it goes.”

Indeed, the Bordeaux team almost caused a major upset in the early stages of the playoffs. But if they have any regrets, it’s from the Friday match, because on Sunday, there wasn’t much they could do. The Mulhouse team quickly took control, with Cuban setter Gretell Moreno proving unstoppable. “We had to adapt for this match,” admitted Guillaume Condamin, “but it was tough because we were up against a team playing with total freedom.”

Bordeaux took the lead for the first time at the start of the second set (0-1). They stayed close to Mulhouse for a while (10-10). VMA then built a lead through the American duo of Katelyn Evans/Reagan Rutherford. Bordeaux closed the gap twice before succumbing to Gretell Moreno’s strong play (25-21).

In the third set, VMA took an early lead (3-0, 9-5), but Bordeaux didn’t give up. After a remarkable service run by Karolina Fricova, they regained hope. Bordeaux fought hard and even thought they would force a fourth set, but Val Gamanovich, set up twice by Enora Danard-Selosse, secured the win for Mulhouse after 1 hour and 30 minutes of play.

The Bordeaux team is saddened by the loss and will see many players depart. “We are keeping all the French players and will rebuild around them,” said Guillaume Condamin. “But Bordeaux is just a stepping stone, as Mulhouse is. Our good players leave for stronger teams, and the good players from Mulhouse do the same. The team for next season is being prepared, and maybe this time, we will make it past the quarterfinals of the playoffs.”