Only the four group winners advanced to the quarters automatically at the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) tournament with the second and third placed sides getting a second bite of the cherry in the play-offs.

Belgium finished second in Pool B in front of a home crowd in Antwerp, and face the Czech Republic in their play-off tomorrow, but the Netherlands topped Pool A after winning all three matches at their arena in Apeldoorn.

They will now face the winners of a play-off between Belarus and Poland in the last eight, while Russia, Serbia and Turkey are also confirmed quarter-finalists, with the Turks edging out the Belgians.

Like the Dutch side, Turkey and Serbia progressed from their pools with a 100 per cent record but Russia, the defending champions who won two and lost one, had to rely on sets difference to creep through at the expense of Belarus.

Turkey will meet Germany or Hungary in the last eight, with Russia meeting Italy or Croatia and Serbia due to face the winner of the Belgium v Czech Republic clash.

All of the play-off matches will be played tomorrow with the quarter-final clashes scheduled for a day later.

The Netherlands will be hosting both the semi-finals and final at the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam.

Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Romania and Slovenia finished bottom of their pools and have already been eliminated.



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