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The 2026/27 Coupe de France got underway on Tuesday, November 3, with eleven matches in the Round of 16 qualification stage delivering an evening full of drama. Chalon-sur-Saône produced the most remarkable comeback of the night against Cambrai, while Chaumont dealt a major blow to defending champions Paris. Saint-Nazaire, Nancy and Sète also had to work hard to secure their passage to the next round.
One of the most intense encounters took place in Chalon-sur-Saône, where the hosts edged Cambrai 3–2 in a match that featured two exceptionally close sets. Chalon opened with a 25–18 win, but Cambrai responded 25–23. The third set was a battle in its own right, with Chalon eventually prevailing 31–29. Cambrai refused to give up, taking the fourth 25–22 to force a tie-break. In the decisive set, Chalon held its nerve to win 17–15 and advance after a thrilling contest.
The biggest headline elsewhere came from Paris, where Chaumont defeated the reigning Coupe de France champions 3–1. The visitors took the first two sets 25–22 and 25–13, putting Paris under immediate pressure. The home side fought back with a 25–19 third-set victory, but Chaumont closed the match 25–21 in the fourth, ending the holders’ cup campaign at the first hurdle.
Shay Liberman played another great game with 20 points to his name through 50% in attack, 4 aces and 2 blocks, well supported by Ruslan Chervatiuk, who added 14 through 78% in attack and as many as 7 blocks!
Narbonne also enjoyed a convincing evening in Corsica, sweeping Ajaccio 3–0. The Centurions took the opening set 25–22 before dominating the second 25–15 and completing the victory with a 25–18 third set. Nice delivered a similarly assured performance away to Fréjus, winning 3–0 (25:21, 25:20, 25:20), while Royan recorded a straight-set victory against Hyères-Pierrefey-la-Londe, with all three sets ending 25–19.
Saint-Quentin advanced after a 3–0 win over Conflans-Andrésy-Jouy, although the second set was particularly tight. After taking the opener 25–19, Saint-Quentin needed 27 points to secure the second, winning 27–25 before closing out the match 25–18.
Nancy had to overcome a remarkable opening set against Harnes, which ended 39–37 in favour of the hosts. Grand Nancy responded with a 25–21 second set, then edged the third 27–25 before completing the comeback with a 25–18 fourth-set victory.
Sète also progressed after recovering from a difficult start against L’Abeille Girondine. The home team claimed the first set 25–20, but Arago de Sète turned the match around, winning the next three 25:17, 25:23 and 25:22.
Cannes came through a challenging away fixture against Plessis-Robinson, winning 3–1. The visitors took the first two sets 25–22 and 25–11, but Plessis-Robinson responded 25–22 in the third. Cannes then sealed qualification with a 25–23 fourth set. Tim Peter recorded 16 points through an impressive 70% in attack and 2 blocks, while Théo Mohwinkel added 20 (47% in attack and 3 aces).
Rennes also advanced, defeating Martigues 3–1. Rennes won the opening set 25–19, Martigues levelled with a 25–22 second set, but the hosts regained control with 25–18 and 25–21 victories to finish the match, with 25 points from Celestin Cardin (61% in attack and 2 aces), and 20 from Samuel Cohen (63% in attack, 1 ace and 2 blocks).
The final five-set encounter of the evening came in Reims, where Saint-Nazaire VB Atlantique edged the home team 3–2. Saint-Nazaire narrowly won the first set 27–25, but Reims responded emphatically with 25–11 and 25–15 wins to take a 2–1 lead. The visitors rallied in the fourth, winning 25–18, before completing the comeback with a 15–13 tie-break victory.
With the first stage complete, the Coupe de France moves towards the next Round scheduled for November 24. Five top-flight clubs—Montpellier, Poitiers, Tours, Tourcoing and Toulouse—will join the competition at that stage.
The road to the final at Paris’s Adidas Arena on March 27, 2027, is now underway, and the early elimination of the defending champions has already added an unexpected twist to the race for the trophy!
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🏆| 2026/27 Coupe De France | 1/16 Finals
Tuesday November 3, 2026
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Ajaccio – Narbonne 0-3 (22:25, 15:25, 18:25)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Conflans-Andrésy-Jouy – Saint-Quentin 0-3 (19:25, 25:27, 18:25)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Chalon – Cambrai 3-2 (25:18, 23:25, 31:29, 22:25, 17:15)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Fréjus – Nice 0-3 (21:25, 20:25, 20:25)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Harnes – Nancy 1-3 (39:37, 21:25, 25:27, 18:25)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Hyères-Pierrefey-la-Londe – Royan 0-3 (19:25, 19:25, 19:25)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | L’Abeille Girondine – Sète 1-3 (25:20, 17:25, 23:25, 22:25)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Paris – Chaumont 1-3 (22:25, 13:25, 25:19, 21:25)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Plessis-Robinson – Cannes 1-3 (22:25, 11:25, 25:22, 23:25)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Rennes – Martigues 3-1 (25:19, 22:25, 25:18, 25:21)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Reims – Saint-Nazaire 2-3 (25:27, 25:11, 25:15, 18:25, 13:15)
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