In a decisive semi-final match, Saint-Nazaire secured their first-ever Marmara SpikeLigue final berth by defeating Tourcoing 3-1. The victory ended the series with two wins to one.
The match saw Saint-Nazaire, the regular season’s seventh-place team, overcome a first-set loss (22-25) with a strong comeback to win the next three sets (25-20, 25-19, 25-20). The team’s impressive road performance in the playoffs continued, having won all four away games. Ivan Zeljkovic, a key substitute, played a pivotal role in the victory, contributing significantly with four of the team’s nine aces.
Saint-Nazaire is now set to face the reigning champions and regular season fourth-place team, Tours, in a home-and-away final series. The first match will be held in Saint-Nazaire on Wednesday, April 24, with the return leg in Tours on Sunday, April 28. A golden set will decide the winner if the series is tied after the two matches.