Best of three semifinal series of 2025/26 MARMARA Spike League started today with both predictions respected and both favorites, Poitiers and Montpellier, who collected away win in their respective games.
Poitiers stopped Paris, the major upset of this final of season, with a clean 0-3 (22:25, 21:25, 24:26) sweep, taking first step towards their second final in a row!
Paris, who boasted 10 win in 12 games after the arrival of head coach Mauricio Motta Paes prior to this game, including the Coupe de France win and the elimination of super favorite and defending champions Tours in quarterfinals, so suffered a heavy straight sets defeat, and need to win two games on the field of rivals to take first ticket for final after the one played in 2016, ten years ago!
Poitiers, on the other hand, continue their perfect record against the team from country’s capital this season, having beating them two times in regular season, and today too, always in straight sets!
Kèvin Kobrine (38% in attack with 1 ace and 1 block) and Thomas Pujol led the winners’ offense with 12 points each, while Simon Magnin also contributed with 10. For Paris, who suffered the heavy absence of Vasily Molotkov due illness, Mathis Henno topped all scorers recording 14 points but with only 33% in attack (2 errors and blocked 3 times).
On the other semifinal series, No.2 in regular season Montpellier (and unbeaten at home so far, counting all competition!) won a tense match on the field of Sète 1-3 (21:25, 27:25, 22:25, 22:25), led by an unstoppable Simon Hirsch, who left the court with 25 points to his name through 60% in attack and 1 ace, while Ezequiel Palacios and Tomas Lopez Pascual added 14 each.
Thus the winners continued their run, dropping only one set in quarterfinal series with Cannes, and 5 games in all 2025/26 season.
On the losing side, Dutch middle blocker Luuc Van Der Ent played an amazing game collecting 18 points through 78% in attack, 3 aces and 1 block, supported by Benedikt Sablatnig, who added 16, Hugo De Leon and Nooa Martila, also in double digit with 14 and 13, respectively, but they weren’t enough to capitalize in key moments of the match.
Both Games 2, in Poitiers and Montpellier, next Friday, April 24, and Games 3 (if necessary) on Sunday, April 26.
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🏐| MARMARA SPIKE LEAGUE 2025/26 | Semifinals
👉🏼Friday April 17, 2026 | GAME 1
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Paris – Poitiers 0-3 (22:25, 21:25, 24:26) Series: 0-1
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Sète – Montpellier 1-3 (21:25, 27:25, 22:25, 22:25) Series: 0-1
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
Friday April 24, 2026 | GAME 2
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Montpellier – Sète
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Poitiers – Paris
Sunday April 26, 2026 | Game 3 (if necessary)
• TBD (Local Time) | Poitiers – Paris
• TBD (Local Time) | Montpellier – Sète
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