21/10/2020 14:44
Back to France, Taylor Averill launches #freethebaguette movement
News from the clubs
Cannes, France, October 21, 2020. After a break lasting a number of years, AS CANNES VB return this season to contest a European competition, more specifically the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup 2021. Their journey will begin on November 3 with a home match scheduled for the 16th Finals where the ‘Dragons’ will be taking on another French team, NANTES Rezé Métropole. USA middle blocker Taylor Averill joined the roster of AS CANNES VB this past summer, after spending the last season away from the Volleyball court due to a knee injury.
The 28-year-old from Portland has already achieved some success in the European Cups – two years ago, he was the best blocker of the elite CEV Champions League on a tally of 43 blocks while wearing the shirt of another French team, CHAUMONT VB 52 Haute Marne.
Averill quite surprisingly decided to join the ranks of AS CANNES VB, even though another elite French team, multiple national champions TOURS VB, had set their sights on the American middle blocker. “I am very excited to play in Cannes. It was clear from the very beginning to me that the club were building a good team and that the staff trusted me. I expect to perform well for my return to international competition. In terms of quality of life, I am not sure there is a better place than the French Riviera,” Averill says.
The last participation of AS CANNES VB in the European Cups goes back to the 2016 edition of the CEV Cup. “I think we have all the weapons we need to be a top-level team and even more importantly ours is a team with players who are experienced and want to win. The team chemistry on and off the court is super good, and this is what we need in order to make it as far as possible in the national league as well as in the Challenge Cup,” Averill continues.
The home matches of AS CANNES VB always combine elite Volleyball with entertainment and a show off the court as well. Obviously, because of the pandemic, the organisers have had to downscale these activities for now. “The President showed me videos of the shows, and I think the fans deserve and expect this sort of entertainment – which I totally support,” Averill says.
Taylor enjoys the ambiance in Cannes very much. “Coming from California, being close to the water is something that has always been a part of my life. It contributes to my zest for life, and I intend to pursue what makes me happy until the end of my life. Therefore, I hope I can surf when possible here. Moreover, I recently bought a spear gun. I have never done spearfishing in my life, so that should be fun as well!”
Averill recently launched the hashtag #freethebaguette through his official Instagram account. Where does this come from? “The first thing I noticed when I arrived in France a few years ago is that baguettes are everywhere. Therefore, I started asking questions and decided to dig deeper into this subject to find out that the French government has been holding the baguette in ‘captivity’ since the early 19th century… Therefore, I started the #freethebaguette movement – which I invite you to follow. Baguettes belong to the people!”
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