Belgium stunned Russia in its third match at the 2021 CEV Women’s Volleyball European Championship.
Belgium made a major stunt at the CEV Women’s EuroVolley 2021. In their third match in Pool A in Belgrade (Serbia), which lasted for two hours and 14 minutes, the ’Yellow Tigers’ came back from a two-set deficit against Russia: 3-2 (29-31, 21-25, 25-13, 25-22, 15-11). Beating ’Zbornaya’, regardless of the roster with which it came to the tournament (and it came here with the rejuvenated one), is always a huge result for any team. Belgium inflicted the second defeat to the ladies commanded by Sergio Busato and now both sides count two wins and one defeat due to which the things regarding the qualification to the playoffs got complicated, especially knowing that France beat Bosnia and Herzegovina (3-0: 25-19, 25-14, 26-24). Britt Herbots stood out on the winning team with 32 points, while Marlies Janssens served five aces. The teenager Arina Fedorovtseva recorded another notable display, putting down 28 points, including six aces. Ksenia Smirnova set up four blocks.
Italy won its third match, but this time it wasn’t so convincing, losing its first set in the tournament: 3-1 (25-19, 25-18, 25-27, 25-17) vs Slovakia. Thus, the ’Azzurrine’ tied with Pool C (Zadar) host Croatia at nine points (3-0 each), occupying second place in the charts. Even though she ended the match as the top scorer with 19 points, Italy’s Paola Egonu struggled to find the right rhythm throughout the entire match, making 39 % attack (7 errors). Monica De Gennaro had 90 % reception (10 digs, 60 % excellent). Nikola Radosová scored 12 points for Slovakia.
Results of the day – August 23, 2021
Pool A
Belgium – Russia 3-2 (29 – 31, 21 – 25, 25 – 13, 25 – 22, 15 – 11)
Bosnia and Herzegovina – France 0-3 (19 – 25, 14 – 25, 24 – 26)
Pool B
Greece – Czech Republic 0-3 (24 – 26, 26 – 28, 15 – 25)
Poland – Spain 3-0 (25 – 15, 25 – 15, 25 – 8)
Pool C
Slovakia – Italy 1-3 (19 – 25, 18 – 25, 27 – 25, 17 – 25)
Switzerland – Belarus 0-3 (23 – 25, 15 – 25, 15 – 25)
Pool D
Ukraine -Sweden 3-0 (25 – 23, 25 – 17, 25 – 20)
Turkey – Finland 3-0 (25 – 19, 25 – 12, 25 – 15)
