After winning 3-2 in the first leg, the Sète team did even better in Tourcoing with a 3-0 victory. They will play in the semi-finals against Montpellier.
With the advantage already secured after their home victory on Saturday night, Arago confidently secured their spot in the semi-finals. Right from the start, Sète’s strong serving weakened the Tourcoing defense.
A strong start to the action allowed Arago’s offense to dictate the match’s tempo (7-7). The team then accelerated to double their lead with a solid block from Van Der Ent (8-16). Despite this significant gap, Sète still let points slip away.
Initially surprised by an ace from Antov, TLM (17-21), the Green team even thought they could catch up when Tom Lavigne, also with an ace (23-24), stepped up. However, Sète resisted and claimed the first set with Van Der Ent sealing the deal.
Favorable Refereeing
At the restart, TLM defended their arena at Léo Lagrange. A new ace from Martinez (2-1) and two direct errors from Arago gave the advantage to the Northern team (7-4).
Sète then fought back: an ace from De Leon (9-9) and powerful smashes from the MVP, Nicolas Zerba, steered Arago towards the final moments of the second set. Despite being injured in the first leg, the Argentinian central player gifted a delicate second-hand (20-24) before confirming the break.
In three sets
Tourcoing 0 – Sète 3 Pierre-Dumortier Hall Set details: (23-25 in 32′, 20-25 in 33′, 21-25 in 34′). Referees: Ms. Hepp and Mr. Carquin.
In the third set, it was Léo Lagrange’s turn to support his players. Still effective, the Hérault team saw two successful challenges at crucial moments through video referral. A decision that didn’t sit well with the Green team supporters, leading to discontent with every Arago service.
But amidst the mission, Sète dominated defensively in the final minutes before Marttila sent Arago back to Montpellier for a derby-like semi-final showdown in the Midi region.
