Belgium open Volleyball World Cup with convincing victory over Cuba
The Belgian women’s volleyball team opened their World Cup campaign in Vietnam on Friday with a convincing win against Cuba. The Yellow Tigers secured their first group-stage victory in three sets: 25-23, 25-14 and 25-11.
Although Belgium were favourites going into the match, they struggled in the opening set and trailed Cuba for much of it. A decisive point from captain Britt Herbots sealed the set at 25-23, and from then on the Belgians took full control.
In the second and third sets, the Yellow Tigers dominated, leaving Cuba with little chance. Nathalie Lemmens finished the match with 12 points, followed by Silke Van Avermaet with 11, while Pauline Martin, Tea Radovic and Herbots each added 10.
World number one
The Belgians next face Slovakia on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Belgian time. A victory would guarantee their place in the round of 16. On Tuesday at noon, they will conclude the group stage in Phuket with a difficult match against world number one and Olympic champion Italy.
The top two teams from each pool progress to the round of 16, where group winners face the second-placed team from Group G (Germany, Kenya, Poland and Vietnam). The runner-up of Group B, meanwhile, will face Group G's top team.
Belgium’s best World Cup finish came in 2022, when they placed ninth. Under coach Kris Vansnick, the Tigers are aiming to surpass that result this year.
"To achieve this, we will need to pull off a stunt against Poland or Germany in the round of 16," the team said earlier this week. "But we have made great strides ourselves and believe it is possible."
Belgium's Britt Herbots in 2024. © BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOUR
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