

Spain Women produced a commanding performance to sweep past North Macedonia Women with a straight-sets victory (3-0) in the European League Women on 13 June 2026. The match, played at a late‐night hour (01:30 local time), saw the visitors control proceedings from the first whistle, securing a vital three points in the group stage.
Match Overview
Spain entered the contest as clear favourites, and they justified that billing with a disciplined display both offensively and defensively. North Macedonia, while competitive in patches, could not find a way past the Spanish block or handle the varied attacking combinations. The final set scores reflected Spain’s dominance: 25‑16, 25‑14, 25‑18.
Key Moments
- First Set: Spain raced to an 8‑3 lead behind the serving of captain María Segura. North Macedonia briefly fought back to 12‑10, but a series of hitting errors allowed Spain to pull away, closing the set on a 7‑0 run.
- Second Set: The visitors tightened their block, with middle blocker Lucía Varela registering three solo stuffs early. North Macedonia’s attack stalled, managing only three kills in the entire set.
- Third Set: North Macedonia showed more fight, staying level until 12‑12. However, Spain’s depth told: substitute opposite Carla Santos came in and delivered four consecutive kills to break the tie. A service ace from setter Raquel Montoro sealed the match.
Standout Performers
María Segura (Spain) – The outside hitter was unstoppable, finishing with a match-high 15 points (12 kills, 2 blocks, 1 ace). Her leadership on court kept Spain composed even when North Macedonia threatened.
Lucía Varela (Spain) – The middle blocker contributed 8 points, including 5 blocks that effectively neutralised North Macedonia’s middle attacks.
Elena Nikolova (North Macedonia) – The lone bright spot for the home side, the opposite hitter scored 9 points but lacked support from her teammates.
Tactical Story
Spain’s game plan revolved around high‑pressure serving and a compact defence. They targeted North Macedonia’s passers with short serves, forcing the home side to play out of system repeatedly. Offensively, Spain moved the ball quickly through the middle, opening up the wings for Segura and Santos. North Macedonia’s block struggled to shift laterally, leaving gaps that Spain punished.
Season Impact
With this result, Spain maintained their unbeaten start in the European League Women pool, strengthening their bid for a top‑two finish and a spot in the Final Four. North Macedonia remain winless and face an uphill battle to stay in contention for the knockout rounds. The two teams meet again later in the tournament, but Spain will take significant momentum from this convincing display.