The 2026 European Championships U18 Women continued on July 6 with a Pool A clash that saw Belgium U18 Women secure a commanding 2-0 victory over Iceland U18 W at the Žatika Sports Hall in Poreč, Croatia. The Belgian side, widely regarded as one of the rising forces in European age-group volleyball, controlled the match from the opening whistle, winning by set scores of 25-14 and 25-18.

Match Overview

Belgium entered the tournament with high expectations after strong showings at the 2025 U19 European Championships and the 2026 CEV U18 qualification rounds. Iceland, by contrast, were making their first appearance at this level in four years and lacked the competitive depth to trouble the well-drilled Belgian system. The match lasted just 54 minutes, with Belgium’s serving pressure and defensive organization proving too much for the Icelandic side.

Key Moments

• First set (25-14): Belgium opened with a 7-1 run, powered by three consecutive aces from opposite hitter Lise De Vries. Iceland struggled to sideout, hitting just 22% on attack, while Belgium’s middle blockers, Emma Claes and Lotte Peeters, combined for five blocks. The set was effectively sealed at 18-8 after a 5-0 Belgian serving spree.
• Second set (25-18): Iceland showed improved composure early, tying the set at 5-5 after a clever tip from captain Freyja Árnadóttir. However, Belgium responded with a 9-2 run midway through, capitalising on Icelandic reception errors. Setter Jutta Verstraeten distributed well, finding outside hitter Sara Mertens for four kills down the stretch. A final block by Claes gave Belgium the set and the match.

Star Performers

Sara Mertens (BEL) was the leading scorer with 13 points, including 10 kills on 18 swings and three aces. Her pinpoint jump-float serve kept Iceland’s passers off-balance all evening. Emma Claes (BEL) added 8 points, with a match-high 4 blocks, anchoring the Belgian net defence. For Iceland, Hildur Björnsdóttir managed 7 points, but committed five unforced errors, reflecting the pressure exerted by the Belgian serve.

Tournament Context

The victory places Belgium in a strong position to advance from Pool A, joining Italy and Poland as early contenders for the knockout stage. Iceland, meanwhile, will need to regroup ahead of their next match against Greece, where they will look to build on a brief second-set fightback. The European Championships U18 Women feature 16 teams competing for the title, with the final scheduled for July 12.