France: Round 18 is over - Tours to 3rd place! Win also for leaders Chaumont, Paris, Plessis Robinson, Saint Jean D’Illac and Nice

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After the advance played yesterday, in which Tourcoing won with a clear 3-0 on the field of Poitiers, Round 18 of 2023/24 Marmara Spike League has been closed today with the last scheduled games.
After a disastrous start, defending champions Tours collected today their 11th win in a row in the competition, by beating Toulouse in front of their home fans in just three sets, (26:24, 25:13, 25:21).
In the first set they had to recover from 12-16 and, also in third one, the visiting side tried to reopen the game with a 2 points advantage, but it wasn’t enough as they succumbed over Tours’ blocks (9 to 3). Three players ended the game in double digit: Aboubacar Drame Neto and Märt Tammearu, with 11 each, and Leandro Santos, who added 10 with 1 ace, 2 blocks and 78% in attack (7/9). A win that is worth the third place in the standings, also taking advantage from their direct rivals’ defeats.
Saint Nazaire, with the same number of points in the standings, 35, and now at fourth place suffered a heavy defeat on the field of Paris, 3-0 (25:18, 25:16, 25:19), after a better start and a wasted 13-16 led in first set. Jordan Ewert with 10 points was the only player in double digit while, for the winners, Japanese opposite Kento Miyaura played another great game ending as top scorer with 19 points to his name, 2 aces and 77% in attack. Joachim Panou also contributed with 16, with 1 ace, 1 block and 58% in attack.
Heavy defeat also for now No.5 Nantes (34 points in the standings), who collapsed at home over leaders Chaumont, 0-3 (22:25, 20:25, 19:25). Better in almost all elements, the winners could count on three players in double digit: top scorer Patrick Indra, who tallied 17 points through 67% in attack and 3 winning blocks, Victor Cardoso, who also contributed with 15, and Michael Marshman, who added 10. Chizoba Neves Atu was the most prolific player for Nantes, with 10 points.
Behind them Montpellier, at No.6 with 32 points in the standings, who also suffered a defeat today, on the field of a super Plessis Robinson – 3-1 (25:21, 26:28, 25:23, 26:24).
The winners reached the playoffs zone, now at 8th place with 27 points at +3 from Paris and -3 from Toulouse.
In an exciting, very balanced game lasted two hours, Samuel Jeanlys and Antti Ronkained led their team to the win with 23 (57% in attack and 2 blocks) and 17 (55% in attack and 1 ace) respectively, while Quentin Jouffroy also contributed with 6 winning blocks.
Several interesting clashes also to the bottom of the standings.
Newcomers Saint Jean D’Illac, although remained to the last place with 9 points and at -3 from the two direct rivals, celebrated their third seasonal victory by beating Narbonne at tie break, partially 22:25, 24:26, 29:27, 25:23 and 17:15. In almost three hours of play, more precisely 2 hours and 54 minutes, the winners had a great performance in blocking, scoring as many as 17 points from this element, compared to the rivals’ only 6!
Narbonne, however, were better in attack (56% to 45%), and the 29 points (all in attack, through 62%) from top scorer Daniel Cagliari weren’t enough. For the winners, Gauthier Bonnefoy and Lucas Lilembo were the most prolific players with 18 and 17 points, respectively.
12 points in the standings also for Nice, now at 12th place after an exciting 3-2 (27:25, 29:31, 26:24, 19:25, 15:11) home win against Sète.
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
In their fourth seasonal victory, Nice could count on MVP and absolute top scorer Simon Hirsch, who delivered as many as 36 points with 2 aces, 5 winning blocks and 52% in attack. 5 winning blocks also for Valerii Todua (13 points for him at the end of the match), while Cheikh Diop and Tibo Rippert top-scored for Sète with 24 points each.

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🇫🇷| MARMARA SPIKE LEAGUE 2023/24 | JOURNÉE 18 | Round 18

Friday January 26, 2024
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Poitiers – Tourcoing 0-3 (17:25, 18:25, 17:25)

👉🏼Saturday January 27, 2024

• 18.00 (Local Time) | Paris – Saint Nazaire 3-0 (25:18, 25:16, 25:19)

• 19.00 (Local Time) | Tours – Toulouse 3-0 (26:24, 25:13, 25:21)

• 19.00 (Local Time) | Plessis Robinson – Montpellier 3-1 (25:21, 26:28, 25:23, 26:24)

• 19.00 (Local Time) | Saint-Jean d’Illac – Narbonne 3-2 (22:25, 24:26, 29:27, 25:23, 17:15)

• 19.00 (Local Time) | Nice – Sète 3-2 (27:25, 29:31, 26:24, 19:25, 15:11)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

• 20.00 (Local Time) | Nantes Rezé – Chaumont 0-3 (22:25, 20:25, 19:25)

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🏐| STANDINGS (updated on this day)
1. Chaumont 43
2. Tourcoing 37
3. Tours 35
4. Saint Nazaire 35
5. Nantes Rezé 34
6. Montpellier 32
7. Toulouse 30
8. Plessis Robinson 27
9. Paris 24
10. Poitiers 24
11. Sète 21
12. Nice 12
13. Narbonne 12
14. Saint-Jean d’Illac 9

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🇫🇷| NEXT GAMES| JOURNÉE 19 | Round 19

| JOURNÉE 19 | Round 19

Friday February 2, 2024
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Montpellier – Toulouse

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