Belgium outlast Netherlands to top Pool C unbeaten, Portugal make history with last eighthfinal ticket

A spectacular five-set battle between the two Pool C favorites opened the penultimate seventh competition day at CEV Trendyol EuroVolley 2026 in Baku. Belgium celebrated a 3-2 victory over the Netherlands to top the final pool standings undefeated in five matches played and hand their opponents their first loss of the tournament. In their last pool match on Friday, the Dutch will lock horns with hosts Azerbaijan for the runner-up position on the way to Istanbul. The second game of the day, relevant to the race for the fourth available eighthfinal vacancy was even more dramatic. Eventually Portugal squeezed out a five-set victory over Romania to advance to the last 16 in Europe for the first time in history.

Pool C: Netherlands v Belgium 2-3 (25-27, 22-25, 25-22, 25-18, 13-15)

The Netherlands entered the match with a 3-0 run, but that was the last time in the first set the gap was wider than two points. The score swung back and forth several times until the Dutch reached a double set point at 24-22. Belgium not only denied it, but even stepped in front with three points in a row. On their second set point, a Dutch attack out of bounds finished it at 27-25 Belgium’s way.

Belgium immediately took control of the scoreboard in the second set. Greatly reducing the number of unforced errors and with a brilliant Britt Herbots scoring away, they maintained the lead through the end. The gap went as wide as nine points at 14-5 and 15-6, but the Netherlands fought back to narrow it significantly. Outside hitter Tea Radovic’s successful swing brought in set point for Belgium at 24-21 before her cross-court teammate Herbots closed the set at 25-22 with an unsavable pipe shot from the back row.

The Netherlands struck back in set three. It went even until 6-6, but the Dutch broke away with four in a row and stayed in control through the rest of the set. Sub-in outside Jolien Knollema led the team in the money time. She nailed the 24th point for the Netherlands and then converted the second set point to a 25-22 close herself with another successful swing.

With opposite Elles Dambrink behind the serving line, the Netherlands practically decided the fourth set with a long series of seven consecutive points that put them at an 18-13 lead. Dambrink also spearheaded the Dutch offense during the set, but it was Knollema that brought in a 24-18 set point with a kill in attack. A Belgian error in attack ended the set at 25-18 to prompt a tie-breaker.

The fierce battle continued into the fifth set. A true captain and leader, Herbots scored seven of Belgium’s 15 points, shaping up that count with a pipe shot to level the score at 13-13. A monster block by Britt Fransen followed to place Belgium at match point before the game ended with a net touch by the Dutch for 15-13.

Herbots was by far the best scorer of the match with 30 points, including three aces and a kill block. Opposite Pauline Martin added another 19. With four kill blocks to her name, Britt Fransen finished with 13 for Belgium. Despite being among the starters only for the last three sets, Jolien Knollema emerged as the Netherlands’ most prolific scorer with a total of 23 points, with Elles Dambrink a close second with 22. Middle blocker Indy Baijens (four blocks) and outside Marrit Jasper added 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Pool C: Portugal v Romania 3-2 (15-25, 26-24, 20-25, 27-25, 15-13)

With Ioana Maria Baciu leading the attack, Romania completely outplayed Portugal in the first set. The opposite contributed seven points, all in swings, towards an emphatic 25-15 set win that came on a Portuguese serving error for the last point.

Portugal significantly improved their spiking performance in the second set, while Romania started making more unforced errors. Romania broke away with five points in a row for 17-13, but Portugal managed to catch up at 20-20. Still, the Balkan team reached a double set point at 24-22, but their Iberian opponents reacted with four consecutive points on opposite Julia Kavalenka’s serving turn, crowned with a monster block by Amanda Cavalcanti for the 26-24 set winner.

The battle went on through most of the third set and the gap never exceeded a point in either direction until Romania ran off with six points in a row, with sub-in middle blocker Andreea Cimpu behind the serving line, for a 22-17 lead. It went point for point again until Baciu hammered the 25-20 set winner.

It was now a do-or-die situation and the two teams acted accordingly. Maintaining high concentration in the fourth set, they greatly reduced the unforced errors, while stepping up their efforts in attack. The lead changed hands several times before Romania were the first to reach match point. It was denied and, as the set went into overtime, Portugal stepped in front. On their second set point, middle blocker Joana Garcez closed it at 27-25 with an ace.

So, the fierce nip-and-tuck duel had to be decided in a fifth-set tie-breaker and offered a rollercoaster of emotions as the lead went back and forth between the two sides. But in the end, it was Portugal that showed stronger nerves, kept more focused and put an end to it all at 15-13 to get the party started.

Portugal’s outside hitter Ana Monteiro and Romania’s opposite Ioana Maria Baciu shared the top scorer honors with 20 points each. Amanda Cavalcanti and sub-in Margarida Maia shined in net defense with four kill blocks each. Also with four stuffs to her name, Romanian captain and outside Rodica Buterez tallied a total of 18 points.

Friday’s last eighth competition day in Pool C will feature Spain against Romania at 15:30 local time, and Azerbaijan against the Netherlands at 18:30.