France: Tours, Nantes (after 2 hours and 42 minutes of play!), Chaumont and Narbonne open quarterfinals with victories!

Disclaimer: this article it was written by me, Danilo, on April 8, and it’s protected by copyright.
I don’t authorize anyone to republish it or some of its parts translated into italian or other languages without citing ME or the original source. It is illegal.

Quarterfinals of 2022/23 Ligue A started today with all Games 1, played in a best-of-five formula.
Prediction respected and no upsets if we look at the winners.

Regular season leaders (and fresh French Cup winners) Tours defeated defending champions Montpellier, this season only at the eighth place in the final standings, with the score of 3-1 (25:20, 20:25, 25:21, 29:27). In what was a quite balanced game, the visiting side wasted a +3 lead in fourth set, but the winning side was absolute better in the decisive moments of the game, led in score by Pierre Derouillon, top scorer of the match with 20 points to his name through 57% in attack and 3 winning blocks, and setter Zeljko Coric, who received MVP award (he also contributed with 4 points including 3 winning blocks too).

The most exciting clash of the day was the one between second in regular season Nantes and No.7 Sète. The game ended after a thrilling 3-2 (27:29, 27:29, 25:21, 25:18, 15:10) and, above all, after 2 hours and 42 minutes of play!
After a very balanced start, Sète played two great first two sets, in which they managed to control the game, and to close both overtime, 27:29. Then the lights turn out and the hosts reacted, taking the control of the next two sets, won without major problems, and also the decisive fifth set, putting down the ball of 15:10.
The man of the match (and not by chance the MVP) was Chizoba Neves Atu with 27 points to his name, 46% in attack 1 ace and 1 block, but decisive also the 13 winning blocks compared to 7 of the rivals.
Lisandro Zanotti was the most efficient player on the losing side putting down 24 points through 65% in attack, but he wasn’t enough.

Third placed in regular season Chaumont, although suffered a comeback at the end of first set ended with the minimum gap, managed to win in straight sets against No.6 Saint Nazaire (25:23, 25:22, 25:21), and were able to control the game almost from start to finish, also thanks to a great performance of setter Raphael Corre, named MVP of the game, and his spikers.
Top scorer was Adrian Aciobanitei with 14 points to his name through 63% in attack, including 1 ace, 1 block and a solid performance in reception, while Nathan Wounembaina and Patick Indra also contributed with 13 each. On the losing side Lourenço Martins was the only player in double digit with 12 points and 69% in attack.

Field advantage respected also in the clash between No. 4 Narbonne and No. 5 Tourcoing, in what supposed to be the most balanced duel at least on paper. However, after losing first set and struggling at the very beginning of the second, the hosts were able to prevail 3-1 (22:25, 25:21, 25:17, 25:19), led by a great Jordi Ramon, top scorer and MVP of the match with 19 points through 64% in attack, supported by Luca Vettori and Willner Rivas, with 18 and 17 respectively, as well as a solid performance in blocking, with 11 points from this element compared to 5 of the rivals.
The only player in double digit with Tourcoing’s jersey was captain Morirz Reichert, author of 10 points but with only 33% in attack (9/27, blocked four times).

All Games 2, played on the same courts, are scheduled on Easter Monday, April 10, at 6 pm local time.

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🏐| LIGUE A 2022/23 | PLAYOFFS | QUARTERFINALS

—GAME 1—

👉🏼 Saturday | April 8, 2023

• 20.00 (Local Time) | Tours (1) – Montpellier (8) 3-1 (25:20, 20:25, 25:21, 29:27)

• 20.00 (Local Time) | Nantes (2) – Sète (7) 3-2 (27:29, 27:29, 25:21, 25:18, 15:10)

• 20.00 (Local Time) | Chaumont (3) – Saint Nazaire (6) 3-0 25:23, 25:22, 25:21)

• 20.00 (Local Time) | Narbonne (4) – Tourcoing (5) 3-1 (22:25, 25:21, 25:17, 25:19)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

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—GAME 2—

| Monday | April 10, 2023
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Tours (1) – Montpellier (8) 3-0 (27:25, 25:19, 25:14) Serie: 2-0
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Nantes (2) – Sète (7) 3-1 (25:23, 21:25, 25:19, 25:19) Serie: 2-0
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Chaumont (3) – Saint Nazaire (6) 3-1 (25:22, 21:25, 25:18, 25:22) Serie: 2-0
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Narbonne (4) – Tourcoing (5) 0-3 (15:25, 20:25, 23:25) Serie: 1-1

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—GAME 3—

| Friday | April 14, 2023
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Montpellier (8) – Tours (1) 1-3 (26:24, 26:28, 22:25, 22:25) Serie: 0-3
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Sète (7) – Nantes (2) 0-3 (18:25, 20:25, 17:25) Serie: 0-3
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Saint Nazaire (6) – Chaumont (3) 3-1 (25:17, 21:25, 33:31, 25:22) Serie: 1-2
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Tourcoing (5) – Narbonne (4) 3-2 (25:19, 26:24, 21:25, 24:26, 15:10) Serie: 2-1

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—GAME 4—

| Sunday | April 19, 2023
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Saint Nazaire (6) – Chaumont (3) 3-0 (25:21, 25:21, 25:23) Serie: 2-2
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Tourcoing (5) – Narbonne (4) 2-3 (23:25, 25:23, 25:21, 22:25, 10:15) Serie: 2-2

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—GAME 5—

| Wednesday | April 19, 2023
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Chaumont (3) – Saint Nazaire (6) 3-2 (25:23, 23:25, 22:25, 25:17, 15:9) Serie: 3-2
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Narbonne (4) – Tourcoing (5) 1-3 (23:25, 21:25, 29:27, 22:25) Serie: 2-3
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH