LNV: Week 25 Wrap-Up
In the second-last week of the season, the competition in France is getting fierce! Here's how the Canadians playing in the LNV faired in week 25.
Tours 3 - Montpellier 0
Looks like Tours is ready to defend their LNV Championship. Only days after capturing the French Cup, they follow up with a nice 3-0 win over Montpellier. They haven't lost a match since February 5th and have won eight matches in a row.
Currently sitting tied for 5th with next week's opponent Beauvais, Nick Hoag (Sherbrooke, Qc) and company could potentially make the jump all the way to second with a win on Saturday.
Ajaccio 1 - Chaumont 3
Ajaccio's playoff dreams are now in serious jeopardy after their 3-1 loss to Chaumont this weekend. Sitting in eighth, they are the only team to have yet to clinch a playoff spot, and Chaumont's win this weekend has pulled them within 2 points of the team featuring Brett Dailey (Ottawa, On) and Rudy Verhoeff (Calgary, Ab). Verhoeff did his part in the match, picking up 7 points (5 kills, 1 block, 1 ace) in a losing effort.
Things don't get any easier for Ajaccio in the final week as they take on a tough team from Sète on Saturday.
Lyon 3 - St-Nazaire 0
A big win this weekend for Toon van Lankvelt (Rivers, Mb) and Adam Simac (Ottawa, On) has them sitting pretty in third place with only a week to go. Both were instrumental in the win, with van Lankvelt picking up nine points (8 kills, 1 block) and Simac adding another 7 (5 kills, 1 block, 1 ace).
No time to relax just yet though. With both Tours and Beauvais only a point behind, this Saturday's game against Toulouse is still a must win.
Béziers 1 - Le Cannet 3
Despite a 12 point performance from Rebecca Pavan (Kitchener, On), the Angels fall 3-1 to Le Cannet and are now tied for fourth with Nantes. It will come down to the final week for both teams, as only the top four contend for the title.
Béziers has a good shot next week, taking on Hainaut, who are trying to fight relegation while Nantes has Istres, who are fighting for their playoff lives.
Nantes 1 - Toulouse 3
Max Burt (Gander, NL) picked up 7 points (3 kills, 4 blocks) and started only two sets in this weekend loss to Toulouse. The set won has kept Nantes out of relegation based on sets differential, but a match-up with league-leading Paris will be a tough one to secure their spot in France's top league.
Tourcoing 0 - Beauvais 3
The fat lady sang long ago for Tourcoing, but that doesn't stop Dan Jansen van Doorn (Langley, BC) from adding a block, a kill and an ace in a losing effort this weekend against Beauvais.