Red Dragons Secure Group F Victory at Volleyball World Championship
Manila, Philippines - Belgium‘s men’s volleyball team, the Red Dragons, finished atop Group F at the Volleyball world championship, securing their place in the 1/8th finals after a dominant 3-0 victory against Ukraine (25-21, 25-22, 25-18) on Thursday. This win follows earlier 3-0 sweeps of Algeria and Italy, completing a perfect 3-0 run through the group stage. Substitute Basil Dermaux notably contributed to the team’s success, scoring a crucial set point in their match against Italy.
The Red Dragons’ performance signals a potential breakthrough for Belgian volleyball on the international stage. As one of the top two teams in Group F, Belgium advances to the knockout stage of the tournament, hosted in Manila, Philippines. This progression represents a significant opportunity to compete against the world’s elite volleyball nations and possibly advance further in the championship. The team believes they are setting a new standard for Belgian volleyball. “I think we are one of the tastemakers of the tournament,” according to Sporza Daily’s assessment of the Red Dragons’ impact.
Group F Final Standings:
| Rank | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Sets Won | Sets Lost | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Belgium | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 8 |
| 2. | Italy | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 7 |
| 3. | Ukraine | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| 4. | Algeria | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
The 1/8th finals will feature the top two teams from each of the eight groups. Belgium’s next opponent and match schedule will be resolute following the completion of the group stage.
