France: Montpellier alone to the top! Sète, Toulouse, Tourcoing, Chaumont, Montpellier and St.Nazaire ok in first games of Round 9

Midweek Round 9 of 2025/26 Marmara Spike League started today with first six games.
Despite the absence of several key players and a 2-3 (25:27, 25:23, 25:19, 22:25, 8:15) win on the field of newcomers Ajaccio, Montpellier remain alone to the top of the standings with 23 points, at +1 from their closest pursuers Tourcoing, who down now No.3 Tours (third-placed with 21 points) Tours also at tie break, 3-2 (16:25, 25:21, 25:17, 23:25, 15:13). After a stunning performance made of 45 points in a game against Chaumont, also ended at tie break, Venislav Antov led the charge again scoring 27 points for a resilient Tourcoing. Despite 10 winning blocks (against the hosts’3), 28 points from Nik Mujanovic and 20 from Leandry Kavogo, Tours surrendered 15-13 at decisive fifth set.
Ended at tie break also the game between Saint Nazaire and Nice, with the visiting side who wasted a 0-2 lead, succumbing 3-2 (19:25, 20:25, 25:20, 25:16, 15:13) under the blow of Filip John, top scorer of the game with 29 points, 1 block and 67% in attack, and Vladimir Garko, who added 23. Bomber Dawid Dulski scored 25 points for Nice, currently second-to-last in the standings with 9 points, together with Chaumont, Cannes and the same Saint Nazaire.
Chaumont, after a disastrous start, sweep Paris 3-0 (25:15, 25:19, 25:22) with 11 winning blocks, 7 aces, 16 points from top scorer Pierre Toledo and 14 from Jacob Pasteur, while Cannes suffered a heavy 1-3 (19:25, 25:20, 23:25, 20:25) home defeat against Sète.
Lorenz Karlitzek led the winners with 22 points to his name including 1 ace and 58% in attack, well supported by Tristan Schlienger, who added 17 and Nooa Marttila, who also contributed with 14.
Close the picture a 2-3 (25:16, 25:16, 22:25, 20:25, 9:15) win of Toulouse on the field of Poitiers, with 25 points from Timo Beriot.
Round 9 will close tomorrow with the clash between Plessis-Robinson and Narbonne.

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🏐| MARMARA SPIKE LEAGUE 2025/26 | JOURNÉE 9 | Round 9

👉🏼Tuesday December 2, 2025
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Cannes – Sète 1-3 (19:25, 25:20, 23:25, 20:25)
• 19.30 (Local Time) | Poitiers – Toulouse 2-3 (25:16, 25:16, 22:25, 20:25, 9:15)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Tourcoing – Tours 3-2 (16:25, 25:21, 25:17, 23:25, 15:13)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Chaumont – Paris 3-0 (25:15, 25:19, 25:22)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Ajaccio – Montpellier 2-3 (25:27, 25:23, 25:19, 22:25, 8:15)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | St-Nazaire – Nice 3-2 (19:25, 20:25, 25:20, 25:16, 15:13)

Wednesday December 3, 2025
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Plessis-Robinson – Narbonne 3-2 (32:34, 25:13, 25:21, 22:25, 19:17)

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🏐| STANDINGS (updated on this day):
1. Montpellier 23
2. Tourcoing 22
3. Tours 21
4. Plessis Robinson 17
5. Sète 14
6. Poitiers 14
7. Toulouse 11
8. Narbonne 11
9. Paris 10
10. Ajaccio 10
11. Saint Nazaire 9
12. Cannes 9
13. Nice 9
14. Chaumont 9

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🏐| NEXT GAMES | JOURNÉE 10 | Round 10

Thursday December 4, 2025
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Tours – Chaumont

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