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France finished the home tournament in Belfort on a high note. On the third day of women’s EuroVolley 2021 qualification Pool E action, they bounced back from Saturday’s loss to Hungary with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-14) shutout of Israel. France improved to a 2-1 win-loss record, while Israel are now on 1-2.

France were well in control of the entire first set. Led by Lucille Gicquel, who delivered two aces, a kill block and five spiking points, including the set winner, they claimed it by an emphatic 25-16. France stormed into the second set with a 4-0 run, but Israel fought back to draw level at 6-6. Stepping up their spiking effort, the Israelis stayed competitive through 19-19, when the home team thought it was time to bring the set home and did so in an impressive manner, by putting away the next six points in a row – 25-19. Set three was no contest. In a completely one-sided affair, Gicquel produced another eight points and personally closed the match at 25-14. Her total tally of 22 points rightfully put her on top the match scorers chart.

Lucille Gicquel, opposite of France: "It was not an easy game. We were expecting a team, a little bit stronger than Denmark, so we had to push from the beginning and we were also a little tired. We had to adapt our level, but we did a good job, we took the three points, so that’s a good game."

Galya Devash, middle blocker and captain of Israel: "I am not happy for the result of the game for sure. But we have a really young team, so for me every point that we score and every rally that we play are a great experience for our players. And it's good for them to play against teams like France."