Wednesday evening (at 8 p.m.!), Asterix Avo faces Türk Hava Yollari, also known as Thy Istanbul, in the top sports hall of Beveren. A top team, fourth in the strong Turkish league, behind world teams like Fenerbahçe (with Melissa Vargas), Eczacibasi (with Tijana Boskovic), and Vakifbank (with Zehra Günes). But the team coming to our country should not be underestimated either. There are also a few star players, such as the Brazilian setter Roberta Ratzke.

Kris Vansnick, you sound very enthusiastic when you talk about the volleyball that Thy Istanbul brings to the court.
Kris Vansnick: "They demonstrate a very beautiful volleyball style. The way they play together is quite impressive. The automatisms are particularly well-maintained and technically refined, combined with physical strength. Really classy. It reminds me of Japanese volleyball. With a very high tempo, which we rarely encounter here. In Istanbul, there are a few top players who were present at the Paris Olympics.

As a volleyball enthusiast, you should definitely come to see this team. It’s a feast for the eyes, but we still want to offer something in return. We can mainly respond with high service pressure, our hitting power, and block organization. The speed they develop is an example for our group. They can learn a lot from this. Compare it to the top Italian team Conegliano that visited last year: with setter Joanna Wolosz and main attacker Isabelle Haak, who showed top-level volleyball throughout the match. That confrontation also provided many learning moments. It will be no different on Wednesday."

Manon Stragier, these are matches you look forward to as a volleyball player.
Manon Stragier: "This team from Istanbul indeed plays interesting volleyball. It's up to us to find answers to that. Of course, we have to serve fully so that they cannot develop their speed with their flashy build-up. These confrontations are motivating. We will do our utmost."

You won almost every prize in 2024, including the Supercup and the BeNe Cup in December. The European Cup in 2025 seems out of reach.
Of course, we are realistic. We will not win the CEV Cup. The Supercup and the BeNe Cup are not the most important trophies. Now the interesting and attractive cups are coming. Of course, we want to conquer the Belgian Cup and the trophy we can lift as national champions, those are the main goals we will focus on in the coming months. It's exciting, right at the top of the competition. The fight with the top four is particularly fascinating. That’s why I think the playoff formula with six teams is a bit too much. It’s a ridiculously overloaded system. The title will ultimately only be awarded after the playoffs finals. The decision will only fall then, but that is still far away. In the meantime, many matches still need to be completed."

You have been playing volleyball at Asterix Avo for eight years now. Have you already thought about the next step in your career?
"I have not yet talked to the club. It is still way too early. Actually, a defined transfer period should be introduced. I'm not worried. But all these talks, which happen earlier and earlier, especially put pressure and stress on young players. The Liga and the Belgian Volleyball Federation should first work well together and be united on many matters. That could solve many problems off the field."

In the Spiroudôme of Charleroi, the Walloon team will already play the quarterfinals of the CEV Challenge Cup on Tuesday. The opponent is Roma Volley. The Italian team is second to last in Serie A. But whether this makes them an easy target remains to be seen. Rome is and remains an Italian team. The Romans won the WEVZA Cup this year and they have not undeservedly made it this far in this European competition.

Jutta Van de Vyver, can Charleroi dream of a semifinal in this CEV Challenge Cup?
Jutta Van de Vyver: "It is very difficult to assess. The Italian league is not comparable to the Belgian Liga. Video footage showed that they have a slower build-up, but they remain a team with incredible attack height and striking power. We will see soon, I really can't predict anything."

Charleroi has performed well so far, until the disappointment of the elimination in the "Belgian Cup" against the ladies of Volleyball Ghent.
"That elimination and those four lost sets were a huge blow. Usually, our level is very stable and we can play really beautiful volleyball. But in the return match against Ghent, everything went wrong - due to circumstances. We can, however, look back on a strong first round in the Belgian competition and also, at the European level, everything is going great. We really have a lot of potential, we want to confirm that in the coming months. The Liga competition remains our number one goal. European volleyball is a very pleasant extra."

What are your future plans for you and for Charleroi Volley?
"I have let the club know that I am interested in a foreign league. I am 28 years old and I want something new. Comparisons with my sister are not at all relevant, she moved abroad much younger. My path is very different from Ilka's. But I want to try it. Nothing is concrete yet, we will see where the adventure will take us."

Text: Walter Vereeck
Photos: Rudy Pollé, Jan Vanmedegael, Jutta Van de Vyver