France: Round 21 completed - Montpellier to the top! Tours, Tourcoing and Poitiers ko! Narbonne win direct clash to stay in Ligue A

After the advance played yesterday, in which Toulouse down Chaumont at tie break, Round 21 of 2024/25 Marmara Spike League has been completed today, and not without upsets!
Alone to the top Montpellier who, after losing first set, easily sweep defending champions Saint Nazaire with the score of 3-1 (18:25, 25:17, 25:18, 25:20) without major problems, making the difference above all from the service line, scoring 12 aces, and they were led in score by Tomas Lopez, top scorer of the match with 17 points to his name through 62% in attack, 1 ace and 1 block.
Behind them at -2 with 40 points in the standings Chaumont, who took advance from the fact that they were not the only ones to lose this week!
Both Tourcoing and Tours, in fact, remain behind with 38 points, both defeated today.
The first one suffered a heavy 3-0 (25:22, 25:20, 25:21) defeat on the field of an almost perfect Nice, led in score once again by a great Simon Hirsch, named MVP of the game with 20 points through 63% in attack and 1 block, while Ardo Kreek, who startet from the bench, also proved to be decisive with 3 winning blocks, two of them decisive in third set.
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
Pablo Koukartsev scored 17 points on the losing side, that struggled in attack and never found the rhythm to turn the tide.
Heavy stop also for Tours, defeated at home, in front of almost 3000 volleyball fans at Salle Grenon, by Cannes. After winning first set without major problems, they suffered the visiting side’s play, able to close the contest with a well-deserved 1-3 (25:19, 22:25, 26:28, 22:25). Despite the absence of bomber Reda Haikal, Timo Beriot led the charge with an impressive performance consisting of 25 points through 63% in attack, seasoned with 2 blocks and 1 ace. Lukas Demar also contributed with 16, while Marco Pierotti added 13, leaving the court also in double digit.
Tue other team to perform an upset today was Sète, victourious on the field of Poitiers also in four sets, 1-3 (23:25, 19:25, 25:20, 19:25), after a collection of 7 defeats in a row! Daenan Gyimah was the most prolific players of the match with 15 points to his name through 62% in attack, 5 of his team’s 13 winning blocks and 2 aces, well supported by Tristan Schlienger and Jesse Elser, who added 10 each after almost 2 hours of play.
Close the picture the hard-fought success of Narbonne on the field of last-placed Plessis Robinson, 2-3 (25:21, 10:25, 18:25, 27:25, 10:15), in one of the direct clash to stay in Ligue A. Now at +4 from today’s rivals and +2 from Saint Nazaire, they have to thanks Casey Schouten, absolute top scorer of the match with 28 points to his name, 63% in attack and 2 winning blocks.

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🏐| MARMARA SPIKE LEAGUE 2024/25 | JOURNÉE 21 | Round 21

Friday February 14, 2025
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Toulouse – Chaumont 3-2 (22:25, 28:26, 25:21, 15:25, 15:13)

👉🏼Saturday February 15, 2025

• 19.00 (Local Time) | Plessis Robinson – Narbonne 2-3 (25:21, 10:25, 18:25, 27:25, 10:15)

• 19.00 (Local Time) | Poitiers – Sète 1-3 (23:25, 19:25, 25:20, 19:25)

• 19.00 (Local Time) | Nice – Tourcoing 3-0 (25:22, 25:20, 25:21)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

• 20.00 (Local Time) | Tours – Cannes 1-3 (25:19, 22:25, 26:28, 22:25)

• 20.00 (Local Time) | Montpellier – Saint Nazaire 3-1 (18:25, 25:17, 25:18, 25:20)

Dayoff: Paris

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🏐| STANDINGS (updated on this day):
1. Montpellier Herault Sporting Club Volley 42
2. Chaumont Volley-Ball 52 Haute-Marne 40
3. Saems Tourcoing Volley-Ball Lille Metropole 38
4. Tours Volley-Ball 38
5. Spacer’s Toulouse Volley 33
6. Alterna Stade Poitevin Volley-Ball Pro 31
7. Nice Volley Ball 30
8. AS Cannes 27
9. Paris Volley 25
10. Arago De Sète 21
11. Narbonne Volley 19
12. Saint-Nazaire Volley-Ball Atlantique 17
13. Plessis-Robinson Volley-Ball 15

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🏐| NEXT ROUND | JOURNÉE 22 | Round 22

Friday February 21, 2025
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Chaumont – Montpellier

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