France: Tours down Tourcoing in big match of Round 19. Win also for Nice, Plessis Robinson, Poitiers and Narbonne

After the advance played yesterday, in which Toulouse defeat Montpellier by 3-1, Round 19 of 2024/25 Marmara Spike League has been completed today.
With Chaumont who had a dayoff today, Tours took advantage of that, as well as of the loss of Montpellier and, sweeping Tourcoing with the score of 3-1 (28:26, 19:25, 25:23, 25:22) in a direct clash, hook today’s rivals at third place in the standings both with 35 points, at -1 from Montpellier and Chaumont!
Antoine Pothron led the charge with 21 points to his name through 53% in attack, 2 blocks and 1 ace, while Ryan Sclater and Roland Gergye also contributed with 14 and 11 points, respectively (79% in attack for the latter!). Pablo Koukartsev scored 26 points for Tourcoing including 3 winning blocks, 1 ace and 49% in attack, but he wasn’t enough.
Behind them at 5th place Poitiers, who defeat newcomers Cannes in just three sets, 3-0 (25:23, 25:22, 30:28). Despite the result, the game was hard-fought, above all in first and third sets, both ended with the minimum gap. However, the winners were better in decisive moments of the game, led by Bozidar Vucicevic, author of 18 points through 55% in attack and 1 block, and Thibault Thoral, who added 13. Lukas Demar, the only player in double digit, also scoring 18 points on the other side of the net.
3 points also for last-placed Plessis Robinson, who inflicted to Sète their 7th defeat in a row, by beating them by 3-1 (17:25, 25:21, 25:17, 25:18).
To make the difference a better team performance in attack (60% to 46%), and in blocking, scoring 12 points from this element compared to the rivals’ 5. Kristap Platacs scored 19 points for the winners through 67% in attack, 2 blocks and 1 ace, but double digit also for Nathan Canovas and Pedro Molina, who added 17 and 14 points, respectively.
With this result Plessis Robinson remain to the bottom of the standings with 14 points, but now at -3 from Narbonne and Saint Nazaire, both with 17 points, and -4 from Sète.
Titleholders Saint Nazaire, now only third-to-last and fighting to avoid relegation, earned a very important point after a half-comeback on tje field of Nice, but losing the game 3-2 (25:20, 25:22, 25:27, 22:25, 15:13).
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
After two hours and 24 minutes of play, the hosts made the difference above all in blocking, scoring as many as 17 points from this element compared to the rivals’ 8, and were led in score by bomber Simon Hirsch, top scorer of the match with 26 points to his name through 44% in attack, 3 blocks and 1 ace, and MVP Alexandros Raptis, who added 20 through 41% in attack, 3 blocks too and 2 aces. Good performance also for setter Valentin Bouleau, who scored 6 points including 2 aces and 2 blocks and replaced Bruno Dias, who suffered an ankle injury in game
against Montpellier, a week ago.
Win and 3 very important points also for Narbonne, who prevailed over Paris by 3-1 (21:25, 25:22, 25:16, 25:22), with 25 points from an almost perfect Liam Patte (72% in attack, 1 block and 3 aces).

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🏐| MARMARA SPIKE LEAGUE 2024/25 | JOURNÉE 19 | Round 19

Friday January 31, 2025
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Toulouse – Montpellier 3-1 (25:21, 16:25, 25:20, 25:23)

👉🏼Saturday February 1, 2025

• 19.00 (Local Time) | Nice – Saint Nazaire 3-2 (25:20, 25:22, 25:27, 22:25, 15:13)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

• 19.00 (Local Time) | Plessis Robinson – Sète 3-1 (17:25, 25:21, 25:17, 25:18)

• 19.00 (Local Time) | Poitiers – Cannes 3-0 (25:23, 25:22, 30:28)

• 19.00 (Local Time) | Tours – Tourcoing 3-1 (28:26, 19:25, 25:23, 25:22)

• 20.00 (Local Time) | Narbonne – Paris 3-1 (21:25, 25:22, 25:16, 25:22)

Dayoff: Chaumont

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🏐| STANDINGS (updated on this day):
1. Montpellier Herault Sporting Club Volley 36
2. Chaumont Volley-Ball 52 Haute-Marne 36
3. Saems Tourcoing Volley-Ball Lille Metropole 35
4. Tours Volley-Ball 35
5. Alterna Stade Poitevin Volley-Ball Pro 31
6. Spacer’s Toulouse Volley 31
7. Nice Volley Ball 27
8. Paris Volley 22
9. AS Cannes 21
10. Arago De Sète 18
11. Saint-Nazaire Volley-Ball Atlantique 17
12. Narbonne Volley 17
13. Plessis-Robinson Volley-Ball 14

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🏐| NEXT ROUND | JOURNÉE 20 | Round 20

Friday February 7, 2025
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Saint Nazaire – Tours

Dayoff: Sète

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