The Yellow Tigers claimed a remarkable victory against Thailand in the Volleyball Nations League in Nanjing. After a difficult start and a 0-2 deficit, Belgium looked on course for a third consecutive defeat, but Kris Vansnick’s team showed great resilience. With Pauline Martin leading the way and a strong collective response from the entire squad, the Tigers completed the comeback to win 3-2: 20-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-22 and 16-14.

Head coach Kris Vansnick opted for the same starting seven as in the first two matches of the week. Belgium started the match with plenty of grinta, but Thailand, as expected very strong defensively, were the first team to open up a gap in the first set. At 6-11, Vansnick called his first timeout. The Tigers fought their way back to 11-13, but Thailand remained more efficient in transition. Led by Pimpichaya Kokram, Thailand pulled away again and took the opening set 20-25.

Belgium also had to chase the score from the start of the second set. Thailand defended a huge number of balls and made it difficult for the Belgians to find the floor. During a timeout, Vansnick asked for more variety in Belgium’s attacking patterns, but Thailand increased the pressure from the service line and moved ahead to 7-14. Still, the Tigers refused to give up. Belgium started to win more of the long rallies and, at 13-16, belief began to grow. Thailand responded strongly after a timeout, however, and extended the lead again to 13-19. Belgium saved four set points in the closing stages, but the second set also went Thailand’s way: 22-25.

In the third set, Thailand once again looked ready to take full control of the match. After Belgium had moved 3-1 ahead, Thailand quickly turned the score around to 6-11 and later 7-13. But that was exactly the moment when the Tigers stood up. With Britt Herbots at the service line and better Belgian organisation in the long rallies, Belgium came back to 12-13. Pauline Martin then took charge. The opposite scored crucial points and brought the Tigers level. Belgium even moved back in front at 20-19 and held firm in a tense finish. The Tigers won the third set 25-23 and brought themselves back into the match.

Belgium carried that momentum into the fourth set. Thailand moved ahead again at 1-4, but Martin and her teammates reacted immediately to make it 4-4. From there, Belgium took control. At 7-5 and 10-7, the Tigers forced Thailand into a timeout. The Thai error count started to rise, while Belgium gained more and more grip on the match. Alongside Martin, Herbots also became more involved offensively, which made things easier for Belgium. Thailand, however, were not ready to let the match slip away and came back from 22-18 to 22-21. After a Belgian timeout, Vansnick’s team restored order. The Tigers kept their composure and forced a deciding fifth set with a 25-22 set win.

Belgium made the stronger start in the tiebreak. The Tigers moved ahead to 5-2 and 7-3, but Thailand continued to fight for every ball. Belgium’s defence, with a strong performance from substitute Noor Debouck, reached a higher level than in the first two sets. Thailand still came back to 10-8 and later even to 12-12. Everything was up for grabs again. At 13-13, it was Pauline Martin, who else, who earned Belgium’s first match point. The second match point proved to be the decisive one. Belgium won the tiebreak 16-14 and claimed a hugely important VNL victory.

Pauline Martin finished the match with 40 points and was the standout performer of the day. She became only the third player in Women’s VNL history to reach the 40-point mark.

Kris Vansnick: “This was emotional for several reasons. I think this match is an example of who we are. When we win matches in the VNL, it is not often 3-0, but more often in a tiebreak, by continuing to fight until the end. At 17-13 down in the third set, I said that this was not the moment to give up, but to think point by point. The players did that extremely well. The players who came in also helped the team a lot. Everyone kept fighting until the last point and, in the end, we deserved this win.”

The head coach also praised Pauline Martin’s performance, while stressing the importance of the collective. “Pauline took a lot of responsibility today and she responded in a fantastic way. We have worked hard with her and this was a very complete match from her. But we are a team in which everyone is needed. Of course I am very happy when Pauline scores 40 points, but this win belongs to the whole team.”

Martin herself mainly highlighted the team effort after the match. “It was a big battle from start to finish. We did not start the way we wanted, but after the first two sets we told each other it was 0-0 again. We wanted to give everything and make the match as long as possible. That is what we did. I am so proud of the whole group, because we needed everyone today. Everyone contributed and the atmosphere in the team was amazing.”

On her historic individual performance, Martin remained modest. “I am mostly just happy that I could help the team today. It was not an easy match, because we knew how well Thailand defends. The 40 points are of course very nice, but the most important thing is that we got this win.”

For the Yellow Tigers, the victory is also hugely important mentally after the difficult match against Czechia the day before. “We know how tough this competition is,” Martin added. “Staying in the VNL is a big goal for us. This is the best tournament in the world, every match is a top-level match. Thailand are close to us in the world ranking, so we knew how important this game was. This win is a big relief.”

The Yellow Tigers will close their first VNL week in Nanjing tomorrow at 9:00 Belgian time against Serbia.

Played for Belgium: Van Sas (3), Herbots (19), Lemmens (7), Koulberg (2), Demeyer (2), Martin (40), liberos Rampelberg and Debouck.

Substitutes: Bertels (2), Nagels (1), Deleu (4), Fransen (9).