The Thailand Women's National Volleyball Team came agonizingly close to a major upset in the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL), but ultimately fell in a hard-fought five-set thriller against Belgium Women, 2-3 (25-23, 23-25, 25-22, 20-25, 12-15) on June 6, 2026. The match, played in the second week of the VNL preliminary round, showcased Thailand’s trademark speed and defense against Belgium’s powerful blocking and attacking, with the visiting side narrowly escaping with the victory.

Match Overview

Thailand entered the contest looking to build momentum in the VNL standings after a mixed opening week. Facing a tall and physical Belgium squad, the Thai team relied on their backcourt digging and quick transitions to stay competitive. The match swung back and forth, with each team taking turns controlling the tempo. Thailand took the first set with aggressive serving and smart shot placement, but Belgium responded by tightening their block coverage in the second set. The third set saw Thailand regain control, but Belgium’s resilience in the fourth forced a decisive fifth set, where experience and height advantage tipped the scales in favor of the visitors.

Key Moments

• First set (25-23): Thailand’s outside hitters exploited gaps in Belgium’s defense, with two late aces from the serving specialist giving the home side the early lead.
• Fourth set (20-25): Belgium’s middle blockers took over, registering four blocks in the set to swing momentum back and force a tie-break.
• Fifth set (12-15): Thailand earned a 12-11 lead, but Belgium scored four straight points—a kill, a block, and two Thai errors—to seal the match.

Standout Players

For Thailand, veteran setter Pleumjit Thinkaow orchestrated a well-distributed offense, while opposing setter Ilka van de Vyver was instrumental in Belgium’s balanced attack. Belgium’s opposite hitter Britt Herbots led all scorers with 26 points, including crucial kills in the fifth set. Thailand’s libero Piyanut Pannoy kept the team in rallies with 18 digs, but the Belgian block (13 team blocks) proved decisive.

Tactical Story

Thailand’s strategy revolved around neutralizing Belgium’s height by using fast, short sets to the middle and slides to the pins. This worked well in spurts, especially in the first and third sets. However, Belgium adjusted by reading Thailand’s quick patterns and sending double blocks early. Belgium’s serving pressure also forced Thailand out of system in the latter sets, making their attacks predictable. Thailand’s inability to sustain a high serve-receive efficiency (below 40% positive in sets 4 and 5) was a critical factor in the loss.

Impact on VNL Standings

The loss leaves Thailand with a 1-3 record in the VNL, sitting near the bottom of the standings. Belgium, meanwhile, improves to 3-1, strengthening their bid for a top-eight finish and a place in the VNL Finals. For Thailand, the narrow defeat highlights their competitiveness against top-tier European teams, but also underscores the need for better closing-set execution. The Thai squad will look to rebound in their next match against Germany later in the week.