Belgium 🇧🇪 vs. Cuba 🇨🇺 - Highlights | Women's World Championships 2025

It's pool B, game one. It's Brit Hurbot serving for Belgium. It's Cuba receiving and a decent block touch. Moreno with the bump set, good swing and a good point from Martinez to open her account for the World Championships. Here's Martinez moving to Alba Blats in Romania next season after a couple years playing in Russia. Radovich out wide, drops that in mid-court, committed to the system and create that extra. Diana Martinez will get the game back underway, good lead this. Hurbots, that's what they need, off the hands and down. That's right close to the net and a brilliant first tempo attack to Suarez. Lemons, she's been given two of the blocks but I think Martin will be given the other. Well played Moreno, another block touch. Can Cuba find a way through? Oh they can via Madan, it's a lovely touch. It's early, she has a lot more time than she probably expects on this block and the pull of the hands doesn't help either. She can really wait if there's going to be a tip. Suarez, Hurbotz, as clean as a whistle from backcourt. A lot of space on the edges of the Cuban block. The outside blockers are starting pretty wide, they've got another half step they can start inside. The ball arriving should never be a surprise in volleyball. Beautiful block, absolutely huge and Belgium are level at 19-19. Cuban offense from the middle point of this set onwards. Helst doing a fantastic job. Moreno does very well to get a set out to Martinez. The center is so stretched out. Still just 20 years of age but she is coming in in a pretty hot situation for Cuba. They are set point down and Belgium will have a swing for it. Hurbotz, not yet. Ferrer, first touch, lovely swing to save the set from Martinez. From position four, Madan gets over to position two. First job for Moreno, get the service in. Hurbotz receives, Hurbotz swings and Belgium lead by one set to zero. In a spot of bother there, particularly in that middle third, nothing was happening. Then the block got going and the rest is history. Second set, Cuba getting us underway. Lemons receives and Martin, good first ball side out. Something Belgium struggled with at the start of the first set. From Rampelberg, a slight. Sanchez covers it behind but it's helped over. The fact that they can play with some variation in timing, not just being strong, has to be a challenge. Van Avermaet serving. 9-5. Moreno, good cover. Radovich, Hurbotz, well up. The free ball for a five-point lead. Hurbotz, no. Madan back into Moreno, well up. Hand on that from Lemons. Martinez. Finally get into a situation where they can out-athlete, out-athlete, out-athlete. It's a hard phrase to say, out-athlete the block. The road's flooded, thought we were going to have to get a boat in today. Turns out Liam swam. 10-7 here in the second set. Big bend to the back there from Moreno. Rampelberg. Heavy hands from Martin. Left-hander. Lemons makes a really good read choice and the really good patience on block. 12-7. Rampelberg. Martin. This time it's Cuba who get the block. Suarez. Cycle play. Not try and bury this ball. I need to try and stay high. Moreno. Hit by Hurbotz. Hit against Hurbotz. A lot of hand discipline from the Cuba blockers either. Hurbotz into Sanchez. Makes a good first touch. Evelania Martinez. Falling off the right shoulder. 14-9. Belgium good for this five-point lead. Moreno did very well there to get a set away. Radovich. Nice touch from Sanchez. Martinez. Blocked by Van Avermaet. Defense from Van Avermaet as well. Stays in the middle of the court. Doesn't run anywhere early. A good choice with the hands. More every time to score. Flat serve from Lemon Sanchez who's passed well and that means Suarez is available on first tempo. Laura Suarez. Radovich. Van Sas. Another cracking swing from Martin. Talked about Belgium being a young team. Plenty of youth in this Cuban team as well. This tournament's certainly a nod to the future. And Grafford off the bench making the block. Clips it cross court. Now the swing by Martinez. Excellent. Van Sas. But this is one another. Madden denied. That's it. All of a sudden you're starting to think about 10 attack points. Set point. And a chance to swing for it. Up it goes on Van Sas. Down it goes from Martin. And Belgium have clicked into gear. They lead by two sets to zero. It was a tough tough start. Melania Martinez. Needs a big set. Britt Hurwitz gets the third set underway. An end change. Will it be a change of a lap for the Cubans? A good swing for a point. It will be Martinez. And a net touch from Belgium. 3-3. Clements. But if you are unsuccessful then you lose the challenge and you lose the point. But get another chance here Cuba. Over on to Van Sas. Nicely done. Sanchez. Tarrant. A good swing from Tarrant. DiMora liked it. Martinez steps out. Ramirez steps in. Finally seen Ramirez today. Another one. Budapest. They make Moreno work super hard. Now that'll go down as an ace and you're gonna hate Oh another one over on two by Moreno. I will contest its liquidity as an ace. Different play to be made. Ace service. Lemons does it again. Match point for an opening day victory for Belgium. Rafford gets blocked. Tarrant drops one in. They need to win that game or their world championships is over. This for the match. Martin buries it. And that is a very convincing victory for Belgium.