Belgium and Azerbaijan sweep games with Portugal and Spain in Baku’s first straight-setters

Belgium registered the first straight-set victory in Pool C of CEV Trendyol EuroVolley 2026. In Sunday’s opening match in Baku, they shut out Portugal to score their second win in two matches played. Azerbaijan followed suit and also achieved their second win in the pool, an emphatic 3-0 victory over Spain.

Pool C: Portugal v Belgium 0-3 (16-25, 22-25, 11-25)

Belgium’s first attempt to break away came with a three-point run for 8-5, but Portugal managed to level up swiftly at 9-9. At 11-10, Belgium took the lead again, this time for good. They ran off with a wide advantage. Crowning a four-point series on outside hitter and captain Britt Herbots’s serving turn, her cross-court teammate Tea Radovic delivered a kill block to bring in set point at 24-15. One unforced error a side later, the set ended at 25-16.

Stepping up their spiking effort, Portugal tried to take control early into the second set, but it was short-lived. Belgium retook the initiative with opposite Pauline Martin spearheading the offense, while their opponents managed to hold up until 17-17. After that, four points in a row put the Belgians way ahead on the scoreboard, and then it went point for point until an out-of-system attack point by sub-in Liese Verhelst closed the set at 25-22.

In a totally one-sided third set, Herbots put her scoring prowess on display, while Belgium completely prevailed on the court. A monster block by substitute middle Anna Koulberg brought in match point at 24-10. A moment later, a block-out kill by 18-year-old sub-in outside Flore Maes stopped the clocks at 25-11 and 3-0 Belgium’s way.

Pauline Martin was the best scorer of the match. Her 16-point record featured one kill block and a 54% success rate in attack. Britt Herbots came in a close second with 14 points, including two aces and two stuffs.

Pool C: Spain v Azerbaijan 0-3 (16-25, 22-25, 15-25)

Inspired by a full house of about 4,250 fans, the home team entered the first set on a 3-0 run and never looked back. Outside hitter Yelizaveta Ruban made a solid contribution of nine points in attack, as Azerbaijan completely dominated on the court towards an emphatic 25-16 set win.

Azerbaijan were even more emphatic at the start of the second set, breaking away with a 5-0 lead. This time Spain battled back, but all they could achieve was get back to within one a few times through the rest of the set. Margarita Stepanenko, who switched positions with Polina Rahimova for this match and played as an outside, served an ace to bring in set point at 24-20. Spain continued to fight and denied it twice, but finally, a successful spike by middle blocker and captain Ayshan Abdulazimova closed the set at 25-22.

There was no stopping Azerbaijan in set three. They stormed in on a 7-1 run and, with Rahimova on fire, they cruised on to close the match in straight sets. She delivered match point with a back-row block-out hit for 24-13. Two rallies down the road, setter Kristina Besman closed the match with a kill on two for the 25-15 winning point.

Yelizaveta Ruban once again topped the match chart. She contributed 20 points, including one kill block and 19 spikes at a 53% success rate. Polina Rahimova added another 14 points, including two blocks. Opposite Julia De Paula Viana was Spain’s most prolific scorer with 15 points to her name.

Monday’s fourth competition day in Pool C will feature the Netherlands against Portugal at 15:30 local time, and Azerbaijan against Romania at 18:30.