France: Narbonne to 4th place! Tours ko again, Plessis Robinson, Chaumont and Poitiers ok.

Disclaimer: this article it was written by me, Danilo, on March 11, and it’s protected by copyright.
I don’t authorize you to republish it or some of its parts translated into italian or other languages without citing ME or the original source. It is illegal.

After an advance played yesterday in which Nantes defeated Paris in straight sets, a match that defined all teams that will compete in the playoffs, and waiting for tomorrow’s postoponent between Tourcoing a Saint Nazaire, other five matches of 2022/23 Ligue A Round 24 were played today.

The biggest news of the day is the second defeat in a row, and the second defeat in a row at tie break, of Tours. Defeated a week ago on the field of Plessis Robinson, the current leaders this time suffered a home defeat (25:17, 18:25, 25:21, 24:26, 13:15) against Toulouse, now at eleventh place in the standings with the same number of points of Poitiers, who today won on the field of Montpellier at tie break too, despite an impressive performance of Theo Faure, who ended the game with 30 points. Partially it was 25:27, 19:25, 25:15, 25:16 and 12:15 but, despite the defeat, France’s titleholders are already qualified to playoffs (although mathematics can still move them from 8th place, with two more rounds to play).

And today other two games ended at tie break.
Last placed Cambrai wasted a 2-0 lead and suffered a home defeat against Plessis Robinson 2-3 (25:20, 25:21, 24:26, 19:25, 12:25), with 29 points by Samuel Jeanlys (53% in attack, four winning blocks and 2 aces), while Narbonne won on the field of Sète (14:25, 25:14, 25:22, 18:25, 10:15) in what was a direct clash for fourth place, the current position in which they are.
The winners were slightly better in all elements, with 14 winning blocks vs. 11, 46% in attack vs. 44%, 41% (25% perfect) reception vs. 35% (22% perfect), 11 aces (5 by Jordi Ramon) vs. 8.
Top scorers ot the match were Luca Vettori with 23 points and Willner Rivas who also contributed with 21.
Kyle Russell put down 19 points for Sète, who remain at seventh place in the standings.

Close the picture the only one one clear victory of the day.
Chaumont, after a hard fought first set, defeat an again decimated Nice in straight sets (27:25, 25:15, 25:22). Again penalized by the heavy absences of starting setter and opposite Javier Gonzalez and Celestin Cardin, and of middleblockers Rodney Ah Kong and Franco Medina, the finalist of Coupe de France could count only on captain Steven Marshall, the most consistent despite 5 errors from the service line, but top scorer with 12 points, while among the winners, Pierre Toledo and Adrian Aciobanitei ended the game with 16 and 14 points, respectively. The first was named MVP of the match with 67% in attack and 2 aces. And don’t forget to look at the PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH!

About the playoffs?
With only two rounds at the end of the regular season, Tours (55) and Nantes (53) will fight for first place, while Chaumont (who, with 48, can also reach second place), Narbonne (45), Tourcoing (44) and Saint Nazaire (44) will fight for third. And then there are Sète (40, and they can climb several positions) and defending champions Montpellier (36).

See you tomorrow, after another decisive game: Tourcoing – Saint-Nazaire!

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🏐| Ligue A 2022/23 | JOURNÉE 24 | Round 24

| Friday March 10, 2023
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Paris – Nantes Rezé 0-3 (23:25, 23:25, 20:25)

👉🏼 Saturday March 11, 2023

• 19.30 (Local Time) | Sète – Narbonne 2-3 (14:25, 25:14, 25:22, 18:25, 10:15)

• 20.00 (Local Time) | Cambrai – Plessis-Robinson 2-3 (25:20, 25:21, 24:26, 19:25, 12:25)

• 20.00 (Local Time) | Chaumont – Nice 3-0 (27:25, 25:15, 25:22)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

• 20.00 (Local Time) | Tours – Toulouse 2-3 (25:17, 18:25, 25:21, 24:26, 13:15)

• 20.00 (Local Time) | Montpellier – Poitiers 2-3 (25:27, 19:25, 25:15, 25:16, 12:15)

| Sunday March 12, 2023
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Tourcoing – Saint-Nazaire 3-1 (24:26, 25:19, 25:23, 25:21)

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🏐| STANDINGS (updated on this day)
1. Tours 55
2. Nantes 53
3. Chaumont 48
4. Narbonne 45
5. Tourcoing 44
6. Saint Nazaire 44
7. Sète 40
8. Montpellier 36
9. Paris 28
10. Poitiers 26
11. Toulouse 26
12. Plessis Robinson 23
13. Nice 22
14. Cambrai 9

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🏐| NEXT ROUND | JOURNÉE 25 | Round 25

Saturday March 18, 2023
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Chaumont – Tourcoing

Sunday March 19, 2023
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Narbonne – Paris

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