Estonia stun Finland in five-set thriller as Belgium finish top of Pool C!

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Estonia brought the final day of Pool C to a dramatic conclusion, defeating hosts Finland 3–2 (22:25, 25:21, 25:21, 20:25, 15:11) in front of 9,813 spectators at the Nokia Arena.
The result ended Finland’s hopes of finishing at the top of the pool, while Belgium moved into first place following their earlier 3–0 victory over Serbia.
Finland finished second, with Estonia completing the pool stage on a high after a memorable performance against their neighbours.

Finland entered their final pool match determined to give their home supporters one last victory in Tampere.
The occasion was made even more special by Joonas Jokela celebrating his 100th appearance for the national team, while Olivia Kunnari, niece of head coach Olli Kunnari, performed the national anthem in front of the packed arena.

The hosts made an excellent start.
The Marttila brothers and Jonas Jokela found consistent solutions in attack, exploiting gaps in the Estonian defence and building a convincing lead. Estonia briefly threatened a comeback late in the set, with Renee Teppan scoring two consecutive aces as Finland led 23–20. Nooa Marttila responded with important plays, however, helping Finland close out the opening set 25–22.
The second set offered a spectacular display of volleyball, with long rallies, outstanding defensive efforts and powerful attacks from both sides. Estonia gradually gained control, with left-handed opposite Timo Andre Lohmus creating the first significant break at 16–11 before extending the advantage to 22–18. Finland struggled to regain momentum, and Estonia levelled the match at 25–21.
Estonia continued their strong performance in the third set, establishing early leads at 9–6 and 13–9. Finland then found a way back through Luka Marttila, who produced three consecutive aces during a crucial service rotation to bring the hosts level at 19–19.
The Estonians refused to lose control. Lohmus delivered a decisive block to put his team 22–20 ahead, and Estonia held their nerve to win the set 25–21. The result left Finland facing the end of their hopes of finishing first in Pool C.
The hosts responded with determination in the fourth set, refusing to let the match slip away in front of their supporters. Niko Suihkonen, who replaced Nooa Marttila from the third set, made an immediate impact and contributed seven points. Finland maintained their intensity and secured the set 25–20, forcing a deciding tie-break.
After more than two hours of high-quality volleyball, neither team appeared ready to slow down. Both sides continued to attack aggressively, defend with determination and search for every possible advantage. Estonia, however, showed greater composure when it mattered most.

Lohmus and Teppan led the Estonian charge, finishing with 24 and 16 points respectively. Estonia controlled the decisive moments of the tie-break and closed out the match 15–11, completing a memorable five-set victory.
The result secured first place for Belgium, while Finland settled for second. Estonia, meanwhile, finished their campaign with a performance that will remain one of the defining moments of their EuroVolley experience.

“We wanted so much to win again, in front of this great public, and so we did everything we could. I am so happy and proud of my team,” said Estonia opposite Timo Andre Lohmus.

“They played very well, they really wanted the fifth set and then they kept playing very tough. Now we have to focus on Italy“, added Antti Ronkainen, Captain of Finland.

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🏐| CEV Enel EuroVolley 2026 | Thursday, September 17, 2026

POOL A📍PalaPanini Modena
• 16.00 (Local Time) | Slovakia – Greece
• 21.05 (Local Time) | Italy – Slovenia

🏐| POOL A FINAL STANDINGS
1. Italy 12
2. Slovenia 9
3. Czech Republic 8
4. Greece 6
5. Sweden 4
6. Slovakia 0

POOL C📍Nokia Arena Tampere
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Serbia – Belgium 0-3 (19:25, 21:25, 16:25)
👉🏼 20.00 (Local Time) | Finland – Estonia 2-3 (25:22, 21:25, 22:25, 25:20, 11:15)

🏐| POOL C STANDINGS
1. Belgium 13
2. Finland 11
3. Serbia 7
4. Denmark 7
5. Estonia 5
6. Netherlands 2

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NEXT GAMES: Round of 16

Saturday September 19, 2026
📍Arena 8888 Sofia
16.00 (Local Time) | Poland – Latvia
19.00 (Local Time) | Germany – Bulgaria

Sunday September 20, 2026
📍Arena 8888 Sofia
16.00 (Local Time) | Ukraine – Romania
19.00 (Local Time) | France – Portugal

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