Sweden, without star player Isabelle Haak, was eliminated directly in the Challenger Cup in volleyball in Manila, Philippines.
Belgium won the quarterfinal in three straight sets with the scores 25–16, 25–23, 25–22 and advanced to the semifinal.
The Challenger Cup is in itself a qualifying tournament for the Nations League. Two tournaments that generate points on the world ranking, which serves as the basis for which teams get to play in the World Championship next year.
With the loss to Belgium, Sweden misses out on further play in the Challenger Cup and the chance to play in the Nations League. However, the women's volleyball team is well-positioned to reach the World Championship anyway, which the national team has never done before. In mid-June, Sweden won the Golden League and is ranked 24th in the world ranking.
It was already clear that Italian professional Isabelle Haak would miss the Challenger Cup to prioritize rest and recovery at home in Sweden.
