France: all results of Round 2 – Toulouse and Chaumont stay perfect. 3 points also for Cannes and Nice, 2 for Narbonne, Montpellier and Tours
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Five-set comebacks, narrow finishes and a straight-sets away victory defined the second round of the 2026/27 French men’s championship, played entirely today with all seven fixtures producing important early-season talking points.
newcomers Royan Atlantique Volleyball continued their remarkable run by recovering from two sets down to beat Narbonne, while Montpellier and Tourcoing also prevailed in five-set contests. Toulouse, meanwhile, were the only visiting team to complete the job in straight sets, defeating Saint-Nazaire 3-0 to sit to the top of the early standings.
Royan once again demonstrated their resilience, following their opening-round victory over Montpellier with another dramatic five sets thriller.
This time they looked firmly in control after taking the first two sets, 25-23 and 25-19, but Narbonne refused to surrender, edging the third 28-26 in a tense finish, then appeared to regain the initiative with a convincing 25-14 win in the fourth. Royan, however, although held their nerve in the deciding set, surrendered at 16-14 against a rival who completed a remarkable turnaround. The 3-2 (23:25, 19:25, 28:26, 25:14, 16:14) result gives Narbonne a valuable win, with 23 points from Tim Held (51% in attack and 3 aces) and 14 from MVP Benjamin Braun (60% in attack, 1 ace and as many as 7 winning blocks!).
Toulouse produced the most decisive performance of the evening, sweeping Saint-Nazaire 0-3 (20:25, 23:25, 20:25) away from home. The visitors won the opening set 25-20, edged a closer second 25-23 and completed the job with another 25-20 victory. Having beaten Sète 3-1 in the opening round, Toulouse have now recorded two consecutive wins and collected the maximum three points from their trip to Saint-Nazaire. Libero Facundo Santucci earned MVP honors with 73% positive receptions and 53% excellent.
The home side, who had also lost to Paris in their season opener, will be looking to find a response in the next game at Poitiers.
Also Chaumont remain perfect after defeating Paris 3-1 (25:18, 23:25, 25:21, 25:22) in another match that featured a shift in momentum. The hosts started strongly, winning the first set 25-18, but Paris levelled the match with a 25-23 response. Chaumont regained the advantage by taking the third 25-21 before closing out the encounter 25-22 in the fourth. Following their straight-sets win on the field of Plessis-Robinson in the opening round, Chaumont have made another solid start to the season. Paris, who had beaten Saint-Nazaire 3-0 in their first match, were unable to maintain their winning run.
Finnish opposite Veikka Lindqvist earned MVP honors with 15 points to his name through 57% in attack, 1 block and 2 of his team’s 11 aces, well supported by Jacob Pasteur and Shay Liberman, who added 19 and 10, respectively.
Cannes also recovered after losing the opening set against Sète. Arago took the first 25-23, but Cannes responded with three consecutive set victories, winning 25-21, 25-21 and 25-19. The home side gradually gained control of the contest and converted their opportunity into a 3-1 (23:25, 25:21, 25:21, 25:19) victory. After their five-set win over Poitiers in the opening round, Cannes have now secured another positive result, while Sète remain in search of their first victory of the campaign. Joao Noleto earned MVP awards with 11 points to his name, then same number of points of Theo Mohwinkel, while Jacob Ekman and Tim Peter adder 10 each.
Defending champions Montpellier were pushed to the limit once again, eventually defeating Plessis-Robinson 3-2. The hosts won the first two sets 28-26 and 25-23, but the visitors responded with successive 25-23 victories to force a deciding set. Montpellier finally settled the contest by winning the tie-break 15-12. After their opening-round defeat against Royan, the two points offer Montpellier an important response, although the reigning contenders will know that there is room for improvement after another match that went the distance. Plessis-Robinson, meanwhile, showed considerable determination in fighting back from two sets down, but left without a victory.
Simon Hirsch led the charge with 23 points to his name through 51% in attack, 1 ace, 1 blocks and MVP honors.
Nice and Poitiers produced another closely fought encounter, with Nice taking a 3-1 (25:21, 26:24, 24:26, 25:23) win. The home side claimed the first two sets 25-21 and 26-24, leaving Poitiers facing a difficult challenge. The visitors extended the match by winning the third 26-24, but Nice held firm in the fourth, closing it out 25-23. The victory gives Nice their first success of the new campaign after their opening-round defeat against Tours. Poitiers, who had lost to Cannes in five sets on the first matchday, again showed that they could compete in tight sets but were unable to take the match.
Former Poitiers opposite Kevin Kobrine was decisive today with as many as 27 points to his name through 60% in attack, 4 of the winners’ 17 winning blocks and 2 aces. He was well-deservedly named MVP of the match. Fausto Diaz added 20, while Dusan Nikolic was the most prolific player on the other side of the net with 15 points.
The final match of the evening saw Tours come from behind to beat Tourcoing 3-2 (25:17, 23:25, 19:25, 25:22, 17:15). Tours took the opening set 25-17, but Tourcoing responded with a 25-23 win in the second and a 25-19 victory in the third. Tours forced a deciding set by taking the fourth 25-22, to complete a strong finish, winning the tie-break 17-15, with 27 points from Vasilii Molotkov, decisive also in first success against Nice (45% in attack, 7 blocks and 3 aces). For Tourcoing, Venislav Antov recorded 26 points.
Alterna Volstar will continue already on Thursday with the advance of Round 3 between Sète and Chaumont.
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🇫🇷| 2026/27 Alterna Volstar | Journée 2 | Round 2
👉🏼Tuesday October 20, 2026
• 19.00 (Local time) | Cannes – Sète 3-1 (23:25, 25:21, 25:21, 25:19)
• 19.00 (Local time) | Narbonne – Royan 3-2 (23:25, 19:25, 28:26, 25:14, 16:14)
• 20.00 (Local time) | Chaumont – Paris 3-1 (25:18, 23:25, 25:21, 25:22)
• 20.00 (Local time) | Montpellier – Plessis-Robinson 3-2 (28:26, 25:23, 23:25, 23:25, 15:12)
• 20.00 (Local time) | Nice – Poitiers 3-1 (25:21, 26:24, 24:26, 25:23)
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 20.00 (Local time) | St-Nazaire – Toulouse 0-3 (20:25, 23:25, 20:25)
• 20.00 (Local time) | Tours – Tourcoing 3-2 (25:17, 23:25, 19:25, 25:22, 17:15)
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🏐| STANDINGS (updated on this day):
1. Spacer’s Toulouse 6
2. Chaumont Volley-Ball 52-Haute-Marne 6
3. AS Cannes Volley-Ball 5
4. Tours Volley-Ball 5
5. Tourcoing Volley-Ball 4
6. Paris Volley 3
7. Montpellier HSC Volleyball 3
8. Royan Atlantique Volleyball 3
9. Nice Volley-Ball 3
10. Narbonne Volley 2
11. Stade Poitevin Volley-Ball 1
12. Plessis Robinson Volley-Ball 1
13. Arago de Sète 0
14. Saint Nazaire Atlantique Volley-Ball 0
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🏐| NEXT GAMES | Journée 3 | Round 3
Thursday October 22, 2026
• 20.00 (Local time) | Sète – Chaumont
Saturday October 24, 2026
• 18.00 (Local time) | Toulouse – Cannes
• 19.00 (Local time) | Plessis-Robinson – Narbonne
• 19.00 (Local time) | Paris – Montpellier
• 20.00 (Local time) | Royan – Tours
Sunday October 25, 2026
• 17.00 (Local time) | Poitiers – St-Nazaire
• 17.00 (Local time) | Tourcoing – Nice
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