France: Tours down Chaumont at tie break in Game 1 of semifinals. Saint Nazaire continue their winning streak!

In an exciting start of 2023/24 MARMARA Spike League best-of-three semifinal series, both away teams celebrated (more or less) unexpected victories.
In an exciting remake of last season final, regular season winners Chaumont suffered a home defeat against No.4 and defending champions Tours, 2-3 (21:25, 25:19, 25:20, 22:25, 12:15).
In a thrilling game with lot of turnaround, and balanced until the 11-12 of decisive fifth set, Aboubacar Drame Neto was named MVP of a game ended also as top scorer with 22 points to his name with 1 ace, 1 block and 48% in attack, and behind him newcomer Luciano Palonski, who returned to Tours as joker medical in place of injured Antoine Pothron, with 12 points, all in attack, through 60%.
Surely not a good start for Chaumont, who suffered only 5 losses in regular season, one of them, and with the same result of today, against Tours and another, in four sets, in last game of Ligue A against Saint Nazaire, who close the competition at 7th place and today celebrated another great win on the field of No.3 Tourcoing – 1-3 (25:22, 26:28, 14:25, 22:25).
After eliminating No.2 and Coupe de France winners Nantes in quarterfinal series, they celebrated their 5th win in a row led in score today by Kyle Ensing, top scorer with 17 points to his name through 42% in attack, 3 winning blocks and 1 ace, Jordan Ewert, Helder Spencer and MVP Titouan Halle, also contributing with 14, 13 and 11 points respectively.
Pablo Koukartsev scored 23 points for the hosts, but he wasn’t enough.
Semifinal best-of-three series will continue on Wednesday on the field of today’s winners, Tours and Saint Nazaire.
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🏐| 2023/24 MARMARA SPIKE LEAGUE | Semifinals

GAME 1

👉🏼Sunday April 14, 2024

• 16.00 (Local Time) | Chaumont – Tours 2-3 (21:25, 25:19, 25:20, 22:25, 12:15) Series: 0-1

• 16.00 (Local Time) | Tourcoing – Saint Nazaire 1-3 (25:22, 26:28, 14:25, 22:25) Series: 0-1

GAME 2

Wednesday April 17, 2024
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Tours – Chaumont 3-1 (23:25, 25:27, 26:24, 25:18) Series: 2-0
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Saint Nazaire – Tourcoing 1-3 (25:20, 19:25, 21:25, 18:25) Series: 1-1

GAME 3

Saturday April 20, 2024
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Tourcoing – Saint Nazaire 1-3 (25:22, 20:25, 19:25, 20:25) Series: 1-2

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