Conegliano once again crowned themselves queens of European volleyball, but the Champions League weekend in Istanbul also had a Belgian touch. With Britt Herbots and Laura Heyrman, two Belgian stars were present on the highest European stage. Herbots reached the final with Scandicci, while Heyrman secured bronze with Milano.

Herbots stuns with Scandicci

The biggest surprise of the weekend came from Britt Herbots, the 25-year-old outside hitter who, with her club Savino Del Bene Scandicci, knocked out top favourite VakifBank. In the semi-final, Scandicci eliminated the six-time Champions League winner with an impressive 0-3 win.
Herbots played a key role in that upset. With 11 attacking points and an ace, she left the Turkish powerhouse no room to breathe. “It’s a childhood dream come true,” she posted on social media before the match — and she meant it. For the first time in her career, the Yellow Tiger was in the final of the most prestigious European club competition.

Conegliano too strong in final

The final against Conegliano unfortunately turned into a one-sided affair. The Italian champion — featuring global stars like Isabelle Haak, Zhu Ting, and Gabi Guimaraes — played a near-flawless match and gave Scandicci no chance: 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-19).
Herbots and her teammates fought back and managed to stay close at times, but Conegliano’s experience made the difference throughout. Britt had trouble leaving her mark on this uneven match, but her presence in the final confirms her status as a flagbearer of Belgian volleyball.

Laura Heyrman wins bronze with Milano

Laura Heyrman also ended up on the podium. In the bronze match between Milano and VakifBank, her team showed resilience. After a semi-final loss to Conegliano (1-3), Milano bounced back strongly against VakifBank. Final score: 3-1 (25-15, 25-19, 23-25, 25-18), thanks to strong team performances from Egonu, Cazaute and Orro.

For Heyrman, an experienced middle blocker and long-time cornerstone of the Yellow Tigers, it’s a well-deserved reward after a solid season. She helped her team secure a third consecutive podium finish in the Champions League, following their 2024 and 2023 final appearance.