France: Sète down Tours! 3 points for Chaumont, Tourcoing, Montpellier, Narbonne and Poitiers (3-0 over a decimated Nice)
3 min read
After yesterday’s advance, in which Saint Nazaire won in just three sets on the field of Paris, Round 19 of 2022/23 Ligue A has been completed today, without major changes in the standings.
The major upset of the day comes from Sète: the hosts, now at 7th place in the standings and to the playoffs zone, down current leaders Tours by 3-1 (26:24, 25:15, 22:25, 25:20), with really a great performance. For example, without suffering a single ace (but with 10 made), 15 winning blocks (6 from Maximiliano Gauna, against 11 of the rivals) and 25 points from bomber Kyle Russell.
Three points also for third-placed Chaumont, now at -1 from Saint Nazaire. They won in four sets on the field of Plessis-Robinson (23:25, 25:20, 19:25, 23:25), with 21 points by an again great Nathan Wounembaina (65% in attack, 3 winning blocks and 5 aces).
Bad news for Nantes, who suffered the second straight sets defeat in a row against Narbonne (25:27, 19:25, 22:25), after the Round of 16 of Coupe de France, played last Wednesday. Also this game ended with the same result and today the 21 points of Chizoba Neves Atu wasn’t enough to stop a Narbonne that remain to the sixth place in the standings, with the same number of points of Tourcoing who today, after struggling a lot in first set, defeat Toulouse with a clear 3-0 (28:26, 25:16, 25:20), with 13 winning blocks and four players in double digit (Ryley Barnes, top scorer with 15 points, Moritz Reichert, 14, Daryl Bultor, 12, and Renan Buiatti, with 11).
Three points also for Poitiers and Montpellier, who defeated Nice and Cambrai, respectively.
About Poitiers, they down a decimated rivals in just three sets (25:21, 25:15, 25:23). Nice, in fact, suffered the absences of starting setter Javier Gonzalez (out until the end of season), captain Steven Marshall, and backup opposite Luis Paolinetti. With the only exception of the final stage of third set, the hosts always controlled the game, led in score by Brazilian Gabriel Candido (20 points, 1 ace, 1 block and 67% in attack). Celestin Cardin was the only player in double digit for Nice (11 points through 39% in attack).
Montpellier, on the other hand, won in four sets on the field of last-placed Cambrai (18:25, 22:25, 25:22, 18:25), against a rivals who suffered the 17th defeat in a row (16 in Ligue A, 17 counting also Round of 16 of Coupe de France played on Tuesday, against Nice). Theo Faure was almost unstoppable today scoring 27 points through 62% in attack, but the winners were also great in blocking, with as many as 16 points from this element in just four sets (against 2 of Cambrai).
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🏐| Ligue A 2022/23 | JOURNÉE 19 | Round 19
| Friday February 3, 2023
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Paris – Saint-Nazaire 0-3 (20:25, 17:25, 22:25)
👉🏼 | Saturday February 4, 2023
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Plessis-Robinson – Chaumont 1-3 (23:25, 25:20, 19:25, 23:25)
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Tourcoing – Toulouse 3-0 (28:26, 25:16, 25:20)
• 19.30 (Local Time) | Sète – Tours 3-1 (26:24, 25:15, 22:25, 25:20)
• 19.30 (Local Time) | Poitiers – Nice 3-0 (25:21, 25:15, 25:23)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Cambrai – Montpellier 1-3 (18:25, 22:25, 25:22, 18:25)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Nantes Rezé – Narbonne 0-3 (25:27, 19:25, 22:25)
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🏐| STANDINGS (updated on this day)
1. Tours 44
2. Saint Nazaire 41
3. Chaumont 40
4. Nantes 39
5. Tourcoing 35
6. Narbonne 35
7. Sète 30
8. Montpellier 28
9. Paris 25
10. Poitiers 22
11. Toulouse 18
12. Nice 16
13. Plessis Robinson 13
14. Cambrai 8
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🏐| NEXT ROUND | JOURNÉE 20 | Round 20
| Thursday February 9, 2023
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Toulouse – Poitiers
| Friday February 10, 2023
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Montpellier – Sète
| Saturday February 11, 2023
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Nice – Plessis-Robinson
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Chaumont – Nantes Rezé
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Saint-Nazaire – Tours
| Sunday February 12, 2023
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Tourcoing – Paris
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Narbonne – Cambrai
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