11/03/2019 09:00
TOURS VB secure record 10th national cup title
News from the National Federations
Tours, France, March 11, 2019. TOURS VB secured on Sunday their tenth national cup crown at Palais des Sports Robert Grenon where they left no chance to CHAUMONT VB 52 HM in a one-sided final match (3-0; 25-22, 25-13, 25-18). After struggling in their semi-final with NARBONNE Volley on Saturday, where they emerged victorious at the tiebreak only, TOURS VB were just dominant to secure their tenth title since 2003 – and the first such accolade since 2015.
TOURS VB delighted a huge crowd of 3,152 spectators – an all-time record at the venue – to claim the repeat of the final match from last year’s French national league. Back in 2018, TOURS VB had edged CHAUMONT VB 52 HM in four sets – but this time the visitors did never really stand any chance at upsetting the local favourites.
Middle blocker Barthélémy Chinenyeze was the best scorer of the match for TOURS VB with 12 points and he deservedly cashed the match ball in the third set to let the party begin.
As for CHAUMONT VB 52 HM, this accounts for their second straight loss in the French national cup final – after last year’s setback to TOURCOING Lille Métropole. They will have to regroup as quickly as possible since CHAUMONT are now due to play Italy’s heavyweight Sir Colussi Sicoma PERUGIA in the quarterfinals of the 2019 CEV Volleyball Champions League later this week.
Barthélémy Chinenyeze, middle blocker of TOURS VB: “This was the perfect final: a first set pretty closely contested, but afterwards, we got to play our game. We put a lot of pressure in service / reception and block. I think we were just unstoppable, with much desire to win this cup; we were like killers. This is my first club title; before the final, I said I wanted this Cup at all costs; it is great fun and that is why I came to Tours. I wanted the last point, the setter came to see me and said that this one was for me, I put it down; it was the perfect end.”
Silvano Prandi, coach of CHAUMONT VB 52 HM: “Today, I have to thank TOURS VB for the lesson they gave us, that’s all I have to say…”
Out of contention in the CEV Champions League, TOURS VB will now try to retain their national league title to go for yet another ‘double’ in their history.
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