After Silke Van Avermaet, Nathalie Lemmens is the second Yellow Tiger to be signed as a medical joker. A striking coincidence: within a short time, two Belgian internationals find themselves in the same situation, both replacing an injured middle blocker. A clear sign of how ruthless today’s international volleyball calendar has become.

The Limburg native Nathalie Lemmens — 1.95m tall and soon 31 — played this season for Perugia in Italy. The club finished at the very bottom of Serie A1. The season did not unfold as hoped along the banks of the Tiber, although after a coaching change, some impressive results followed: strong wins against Chieri and Busto Arsizio, and even a set taken from the untouchable Conegliano. The season was over.
Then came an unexpected opportunity: joining the Polish Tauron Liga, with league leaders DevelopRes Rzeszów. Even better, the Polish champions are still competing in the Champions League. A nice bonus. Lemmens’ new team will face Turkish powerhouse Eczacibasi Istanbul in a double quarterfinal clash.

“This wasn’t an emergency fix — it might be a springboard to new adventures”

Nathalie Lemmens:
“This offer from Poland came at the perfect time. Without it, I would have had two months without volleyball, waiting for the summer program with the Belgian team. Standing still wasn’t an option. I’m incredibly happy. From the bottom of the Italian league — though don’t underestimate how strong all Italian teams are — to the absolute top of the Polish league. Everything here seems extremely well organized. This is a fantastic opportunity.”

And in Poland, you find another Belgian star
“Indeed, Laura Heyrman. When I was a young girl at the Topsportschool, I looked up to her. She was already playing for the Yellow Tigers and was a role model for me as a middle blocker. Now we’re teammates. In a new environment, it’s great to have someone with so much experience next to me.
I’m replacing Dominika Pierzchala, who is seriously injured. With the constant flow of matches — national and European — you simply can’t manage with only three middle blockers. Modern top volleyball is all about rotation, workload and quick interventions. Medical jokers are no longer exceptions; they’re part of the system. I’m happy to help the team. And there are two Dutch players here as well, so we can speak Dutch sometimes — very convenient.”

A female head coach on the sideline
“Recently, the club opted for a new impulse. Jelena Blagojević, former Serbian international, moved from assistant to head coach. She must bring fresh energy in this crucial phase. I’ve only had a few training sessions, but the vibe is great. I’m very motivated. As for next year, we’ll see. The possibilities in international leagues are bigger than ever. Even the professional league in the USA is becoming a real option.”

Laura Heyrman: “The schedule is so heavy that medical jokers are becoming essential”
“It wasn’t a surprise that Nathalie came to Rzeszów — the club had asked me for some advice. With the enormous load of all competitions, teams need medical jokers more often. And decisions are made faster now, because the schedule is brutal.”
In the Champions League, you face Eczacibasi Istanbul, your former club

“That gives me a very special feeling. I played with several players from their current roster. It will be a wonderful reunion. The American Dana Rettke, for example, was my teammate in Milan. To be clear: Eczacibasi is the favourite. But there is always a chance to cause an upset.”

The men of Resovia Rzeszów face Knack Roeselare in the Champions League. How do you rate their chances?
“The Polish league may be the toughest in Europe. In terms of energy and intensity, it’s comparable to Italy — maybe even stronger. Here, you must deliver a top performance every week to survive the serving pressure. The competition is fierce.
The men’s team of Rzeszów is built to win trophies. They recently missed out on the Polish Cup, so they want to shine in the Champions League. Roeselare is warned, although their strong results earn a lot of respect in Poland. I’ve seen Roeselare play against Italian teams in recent years: very attractive volleyball. And they seem even stronger this season, with players like Basil Dermaux who has fully blossomed.”

And in the men’s team of Rzeszów, there’s someone very special to you: Yacine Louati
“I know him very well. (laughs) He’s been my partner for six years. We’ve chosen to bring our careers closer together. In recent years, we tried to play in the same city or the same club. Long‑distance relationships are no longer for us. Our sporting paths now run side by side.

Do you know where Yacine played his first season abroad? In Belgium, at Menen, with current coach Julien Lemay — then still a libero — and with Jelle Sinnesael and Anshel Ver Eecke, now assistant coaches. My brother Dries arrived a year later, so they never played together. Yacine and I only became a couple later, when we both played in Monza. When he played in Belgium, I didn’t know him yet. After so many years in different countries, our relationship now takes priority.”

Texte : WV
Photo : Laura Heyrman