Azerbaijan W vs Netherlands W

Netherlands out-hit Azerbaijan in spikes 61–44 across the four sets and owned the service line. Middle blocker Britte Stuut delivered a match-high four aces from 19 service attempts, consistently disrupting the Azerbaijani reception and forcing the hosts into predictable transition attacks.

Dambrink led all scorers with 22 points (21 spikes, one ace). Middle blocker Indy Baijens added 17 points (15 spikes, two blocks), and outside hitter Laura Jansen contributed 15 points (14 spikes, one block). Setter Sarah Van Aalen distributed 18 sets effectively, keeping the Azerbaijani blockers off balance.

For Azerbaijan, veteran opposite Polina Rahimova registered a team-high 20 points (17 spikes, three blocks). Outside hitter Yelyzaveta Ruban added 18 points (17 spikes, one block), and captain Ayshan Abdulazimova chipped in with seven points (four spikes, three blocks). Mariya Kirilyuk contributed six points off the bench, including two blocks.

After a competitive opening phase, the Dutch serving game turned the match. Stuut's four aces — part of a broader service plan that kept Azerbaijan's passers under pressure — prevented the hosts from establishing any rhythm in transition. Netherlands won the spike battle decisively, and the Azerbaijani block (eight stuffs) could not compensate for the reception woes.

Elles Dambrink (Netherlands W) — Match-high 22 points on 21 spikes and an ace from 49 attack attempts. The opposite was the most reliable offensive option on the court, converting at a 43% efficiency rate.

Britte Stuut (Netherlands W) — Ten points (three spikes, three blocks, four aces) from a middle blocker is an outlier stat line. Her serving run in the middle sets broke the game open.

Polina Rahimova (Azerbaijan W) — Twenty points (17 spikes, three blocks) carried the host nation's offence, but the 35-year-old veteran lacked the supporting cast to match Dutch depth.

Indy Baijens (Netherlands W) — Fifteen spike kills and two blocks from the middle, converting at a high clip off Van Aalen's distribution.

Netherlands' 61–44 spike advantage (a +17 margin) tells the story more cleanly than any overall stat. The Azerbaijani attack relied heavily on Rahimova and Ruban (combined 34 spike kills), while the Dutch spread their offence across five different hitters who reached at least five spike wins. Stuut's four aces and three blocks also underline how the Netherlands won the serve-and-pass duel decisively. Azerbaijan's 5,120 fans at the MES Gym pushed the hosts through a competitive first set, but the Dutch settled into their system and never looked back.

Netherlands finish Pool C in second place with a 4–1 group record and advance to the Round of 16 in Istanbul. Azerbaijan, third with a 3–2 record, also progress. Belgium topped the pool undefeated (5–0, 13 points), while Portugal snatched the fourth and final qualification spot. Both the Netherlands and Azerbaijan now travel to Istanbul for the eighthfinal stage, with fixtures scheduled in the coming days.

Pool C Final Standings (via Global Sports Archive):

1. Belgium — 5 wins, 13 pts
2. Netherlands — 4 wins, 12 pts
3. Azerbaijan — 3 wins, 8 pts
4. Portugal — 2 wins, 5 pts
5. Romania — 1 win, 6 pts
6. Spain — 0 wins, 1 pt

Netherlands were sharper in every phase — serve, spike and block — and fully merited the win that secured second place. Azerbaijan's Rahimova and Ruban fought hard but lacked the depth to match the Dutch. Both sides advance, but the Netherlands carry noticeably more momentum into Istanbul.

Match statistics sourced from Global Sports Archive. Attendance: 5,120.