Published on 7th October 2022
The traditional Tournoi du Velay, second stage of the Ligue des Opens More-Sport, will be held on the weekend of October 8th and 9th. As usual, three groups will be reunited at the nautical centre La Vague to try to start their season as well as possible. Let’s have a look at the forces involved in pool C
Le Chesnay : 
New season, same goals for Le Chesnay, to be one of the best women’s teams. Last year, the team had started in diesel mode with the arrival of new concepts to introduce. This year, the players coached by Max Habesztrau will have more automatisms under water.
First step of the project before the autumn round. A victory in the pool C is more than attainable for Nathalie Mathieu’s teammates.
Les Rascasses :
A team that can be near the podium with players who know each other well, who have the experience of the high level and who will know how to handle a match that does not last very long. To be able to classify the Rascasses seems to be a complicated bet.
On paper, the Rascasses’ team could get at least the 5th place, but it is impossible to know what the team’s performance will be over a weekend.
Dinan F :
Will the Bretonnes continue to shine like last year ? A more than positive season for the Dinan team which will now have to confirm its new reputation.
Marie Giacomello will be absent from the squad as she will be playing for the French national team and will be a notable loss for Laurent Giacomello’s team. The only D1 team in the group with Le Chesnay, Dinan will have to prove that their new status is not a coincidence.
Neuilly-Clamart :
New this year, the women’s teams of Neuilly and Clamart now form a bi-club. A merger that will allow this new team to reach a higher level in the desire to reach the D1 one day.
A jump into the unknown which should allow the duo Frantz Klein-Eric Claisse to build the first foundations of the team that will participate in the regional championships in a few weeks.
Diderot XII :
Not qualified for the final last year, Diderot XII also failed to win a place in D1. The Parisians are starting a new cycle with the aim of returning to the French top.
For this second stage of the More-Sport Opens League, they will be able to count on two new players, Barbara Schaaff and Mélina Mopin, but will have to do without their usual captain Laurie Verheyen.
Lagny F :
In rebuilding, Lagny is now a team that has very little certitude. Accustomed to the top level, the Ile-de-France team is now relying on its formation and the contribution of new players to move forward. Note the presence of four members of the Blanc family in the squad !
This tournament will be a test for the yellow and blue and will allow to determine the level of Lagny’s players for this upcoming season.
Baby Girls :
Despite the absence of some internationals who have joined the French 2 team, the Baby Girls still have a chance to play in this women’s group. The presence of several Moirannaises, used to play together and 3rd of the league last year, combined with the contribution of the Breton Camille Deimat and Hélorie Tual … All this will be interesting to watch !
Elite France 2 : ?
At the time of the writing of this article, the French Elite 2 team is only composed of four girls : Clémence Meunier, Maelle Allano, Zoé Maurici and Julie Beaupère. If all these players are promising, with only four it could be complicated !
