Slovenia down Belgium to earn fourth consecutive EuroVolley Final Four!
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Slovenia are back in the EuroVolley Final Four. Yes, again.
Fabio Soli’s team defeated Belgium 3–1 (25:22, 25:22, 20:25, 25:13) at Palavela in Turin on Wednesday to reach the semifinals for the fourth consecutive edition of the European Championship, continuing one of the most remarkable runs in the competition in recent years. The victory sends Slovenia to Milan, where Poland will be waiting in Friday’s semifinal.
Belgium had arrived in Turin with their own ambitions.
After reaching the quarterfinals for the first time since 2017, the Red Dragons were hoping to extend their tournament into the final weekend.
Instead, they found themselves up against a Slovenian side that has become almost synonymous with the latter stages of the European Championship.
Slovenia immediately imposed their rhythm. Alen Pajenk put pressure on Belgium from the service line, including an early ace, as the Slovenians moved 4–0 ahead. Belgium responded through Ferre Reggers and Sam Deroo, fighting their way back into the contest and eventually levelling at 6–6.
From there, the opening set became a genuine battle.
Neither team managed to establish lasting control, with both sides finding important points at the net. Jan Kozamernik was particularly influential for Slovenia, while Ferre Reggers carried much of Belgium’s attacking responsibility. When the set reached its decisive phase, Slovenia finally created the separation they had been looking for. Jan Kozamernik and Rok Možič helped establish a 22–19 lead, and Alen Pajenk then produced two important attacks to give Slovenia the first set.
The second set was similar, with Belgium refusing to surrender and Slovenia having to work for every advantage. Reggers continued to cause problems for the Slovenian defence, but the Slovenians remained patient.
A block involving Kozamernik and Klemen Čebulj helped them move in front, and Belgium’s attempts to stay attached were repeatedly interrupted by service errors.
Čebulj then produced an ace to put Slovenia on the verge of another set victory, before Možič supplied the finishing touch. At 25–22, Slovenia were one set away from another European Championship semifinal.
Belgium, however, were not finished. Emanuele Zanini’s team came out with renewed aggression in the third set, with Reggers and Basil Dermaux immediately putting pressure on Slovenia. The Belgians built an early advantage, and although Slovenia fought back to level the score at 15–15, Belgium responded once again.
Reggers and Dermaux became the driving forces behind the Belgian response, while Slovenia struggled to reproduce the attacking rhythm that had carried them through the opening two sets. Stijn D’Hulst eventually produced the block that closed the set 25–20, keeping Belgium alive.
The fourth set was where Slovenia delivered the answer that ultimately defined the match.
Uroš Planinšič helped ignite a fast start, and Slovenia quickly moved clear. Možič took control offensively while Nik Mujanović added another important attacking option, and Belgium suddenly found themselves chasing the match rather than fighting for it.
There was also a significant moment involving Belgium captain Sam Deroo, whose departure from the court became one of the turning points of the quarterfinal.
Belgian media subsequently highlighted his injury as a possible factor in the dramatic change in momentum.
Slovenia sensed the opportunity and never allowed Belgium back into the contest.
Their serve continued to create problems, their block remained effective and, crucially, they kept their error count under control. The gap grew rapidly before Slovenia reached match point at 24–12. One final Belgian challenge was not enough: the Slovenians closed the set 25–13 and began celebrating another trip to the European Championship Final Four.
Rok Možič led the winners, finishing with 18 points through 63% in attack and 3 blocks, while Nik Mujanović added 14 and Čebulj 12. Reggers was the match’s leading scorer overall with 23 points for Belgium. Jan Kozamernik was particularly influential at the net, finishing with five blocks, while Možič added three.
For Slovenia, the significance goes well beyond one quarterfinal victory.
This is their fourth consecutive EuroVolley semifinal, extending a remarkable sequence that began with their run to the final in 2019 and continued with another final appearance in 2021 and a bronze medal in 2023.
For Belgium, there was a different kind of ending. The defeat ended a campaign in which they had returned to the EuroVolley quarterfinals for the first time since 2017, while veteran Pieter Coolman played his final match as a professional, according to Belgian reports.
And for Slovenia, the road now leads to Milan.
There they will face Poland, who yesterday in Sofia eliminated Germany in straight sets. Another chapter in Slovenia’s extraordinary EuroVolley story is already waiting to be written.
“It’s an amazing achievement — four times in a row in the EuroVolley Final Four. It’s nice to be here with the team, to play with the guys and go forward with them. We are very excited and very happy about what is ahead. We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game. Belgium have amazing players and are a strong opponent. Keeping calm and not focusing on what is happening on the other side, but focusing on the next rally — this was the key for us, the key to coming back after losing the third set and making a strong start. Being back with the national team feels really nice. From the first day I came back after my break, it felt like I had never left. The communication, the energy — everything stayed the same, and it made it much easier for me to adapt and enjoy being on the court with the guys again,” said outside hitter Klemen Čebulj after the match.
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🏐| CEV Enel EuroVolley 2026 | QUARTERFINALS
Tuesday September 22, 2026
📍Arena 8888 Sofia
•16.00 (Local Time) | France – Romania 3-0 (25:16, 25:19, 25:19)
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Poland – Germany 3-0 (25:23, 25:17, 25:17)
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Wednesday September 23, 2026
📍Palavela Torino
👉🏼 16.00 (Local Time) | Belgium – Slovenia 1-3 (22:25, 22:25, 25:20, 13:25)
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 21.05 (Local Time) | Italy – Finland
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
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