Belgium
However, with the stands filled up to full capacity at EuroVolley Center in Vilvoorde, that run was not as flawless as the final score may suggest. Belgium caught a flying start in the opening set (8:2) but the guests stepped up the quality of their block to come back to 9:7 and trail by only two points (18:16) also after the second technical time-out, well supported by Sonja Katz and Dinka Taletovic. A time-out asked by Belgian head coach Julien Van de Vyver propelled a 6-0 break for the home girls who, with an outstanding Celine van Gestel (she is only 14 years old) cruised to the final 25-17.
The second set was very close up to 22:21 but Linde Hervent and Celine Lemmens did help the home side take the deciding points for the provisional 2:0 (25-22). Lorena Cianci stood out for Belgium in set 3 serving well and attacking with good consistency, paving the way for the 8:3 that called for the first technical time-out. A lot of errors from the Austrian side eased things up for Belgium with team captain Sarah Coppens cashing a match ball that contributed the much wanted ticket to Ankara.
