Belgium sweep game with Portugal in Baku’s first straight-setter
News
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.
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 25-21.
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.
Raissa Cassama“So, we knew it was going to be a complicated game, because all the teams are here for a reason. We already knew the challenge we had. I think that this last set doesn’t summarize the whole match, because in the first two sets we were close. Now, we really just have to work on the details, because tomorrow there is already a new game. We will try to win.”
Middle blocker of Portugal
Liese Verhelst“I think this game gave us confidence. Especially after the difficult game yesterday, it feels really good to win. I think the team did very well. Let’s just take confidence from this game and go to the next one.”
Opposite of Belgium
More information coming up here after the match…
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.