France: Quarterfinals Game 1 completed – Montpellier and Poitiers ok, tie break win for Paris (who shock Tours!) and Sète

Quarterfinals of 2025/26 Marmara Spike League started today with all Games 1 of best-of-three series.
The day started with a four sets win of No.2 in regular season Montpellier over No.9 Cannes, 1-3 (18:25, 16:25, 25:22, 20:25), with the winnere who won Game 1 of quarterfinals for first time since 2022! After easily win first two sets, the hosts tried to reopen the game with the blow of Xander Ketrzynski, who left the court with 28 points to his name through 65% in attack, 1 ace and 1 block, but he wasn’t enough against a too strong rival who, after a balanced start of fourth set, stepped on the gas to close with a clean 20-25.
Simon Hirsch earned MVP honors with 19 points through 42% in attack, 4 aces and 2 blocks, while Nicolas Le Goff added 12 through 64% in attack and 4 winning blocks.
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
Also No.4 in regular season Poitiers made first step towards semifinals with an easy 0-3 (23:25, 21:25, 17:25) win in front of more than 2000 volleyball fans in Toulouse, with 21 points from Kevin Kobrine (65% in attack, 4 aces and 2 blocks), and setter Anatole Chaboissant named MVP of the match. Double digit also for Thomas Pujol who left the court with 11 points to his name.
The sensation of the day came from Paris, where Coupe de France winners, No.10 in regular season, stun leaders Tours winning the game at tie break, 3-2 (23:25, 25:15, 25:23, 26:28, 15:11), with another great performance from newcomers Mathis Henno, author of 26 points through 58% in attack, 1 ace and 3 blocks, well supported by an once again decisive Vasilii Molotkov, top scorer of the match with 28 points to his name through 49% in attack and 6 of the winners’10 aces. Nik Mujanovic top-scored Tours with 24 points.
Interestingly, Paris’ winless streak against Tours comes to an end after 889 days, while Tours, on the other hand, lost a quarter-final match and that hadn’t happened once in the last four seasons!
Close the picture another upset, with Sète who celebrated first win over Tourcoing since 2022, defeating the third-place team in regular season in 2 hours and 15 minutes, 3-2 (23:25, 25:23, 25:23, 22:25, 15:12), despite 30 points from Venislav Antov.

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🏐| MARMARA SPIKE LEAGUE 2025/26 | Quarterfinals

👉🏼Saturday April 4, 2026 | GAME 1
• 15.00 (Local Time) | Cannes (9) – Montpellier (2) 1-3 (18:25, 16:25, 25:22, 20:25) Series: 0-1
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Toulouse (5) – Poitiers (4) 0-3 (23:25, 21:25, 17:25) Series: 0-1
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Paris (10) – Tours (1) 3-2 (23:25, 25:15, 25:23, 26:28, 15:11) Series: 1-0
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Sète (6) – Tourcoing (3) 3-2 (23:25, 25:23, 25:23, 22:25, 15:12) Series: 1-0

Thursday April 9, 2026 | GAME 2
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Tours – Paris 0-3 (23:25, 24:26, 23:25) 5: 0-2
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Poitiers – Toulouse 3-0 (25:17, 25:19, 25:23) Series: 2-0
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Montpellier – Cannes 3-0 (25:16, 25:21, 25:19) Series: 2-0
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Tourcoing – Sète 0-3 (23:25, 20:25, 21:25) Series: 0-2

Saturday April 11, 2026 | Game 3 (if necessary)
• TBD (Local Time) | Tours – Paris
• TBD (Local Time) | Poitiers – Toulouse
• TBD (Local Time) | Montpellier – Cannes
• TBD (Local Time) | Tourcoing – Sète

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