It’s almost impossible to predict the final standings in the Lotto Volley League. Only after an intensely thrilling final weekend will we finally know the four Belgian clubs eligible for the BeNe Conference. The rankings shift constantly, with top teams leapfrogging one another each week. The excitement and tension have rarely been so evident.

“That spot in the top four, and also the cup final on March 2, we deserve it based on our excellent season,” says Jelle Sinnesael plainly. “We are building towards new sporting highlights, because if we can do something against Knack Roeselare, now is the time.”

With this bold statement from the assistant coach (who has put his shorts back on in recent weeks to help the team after middle blocker Jasper Verhamme’s injury), we turn to Decospan Menen.

The border team is having an exceptional year, deserving a detailed discussion with the three board members who, alongside chairman Pierre Vandeputte, initiated a new dynamic for the club years ago.

The results are clear. The sports hall has been beautifully renovated. From the moment you step into the entrance hall, everything feels like a warm invitation to enjoy a fantastic evening at “Vauban.” Sportingly, everything is going smoothly. This year, the team won the Supercup and claimed a second prestigious victory against their neighbors from Roeselare. They also reached the quarter-finals of the CEV Challenge Cup. The icing on the cake is their qualification for the Belgian Cup Final, their third consecutive final, again against Roeselare. And the playoffs haven’t even started yet.

Benoit Deny, general manager, Bart Gryson, administrative manager, and Peggy Clerick, operational manager, view the club’s developments positively.

“Thank you for putting Menen in the spotlight. Volleyball urgently needs more media attention to grow as a sport. A few years ago, the new board launched this project to ensure the future of top-level volleyball in Menen, out of respect for our players, sponsors, and supporters. After a transition period and with the city’s support for renovating our Vauban sports hall, we began a new chapter in the club’s history.”

With coach Julien Lemay, who earned his stripes at Balti Kortrijk, Menen is now aiming high. “We want to be a club that consistently finishes in the top three every year. No team should enjoy coming to Menen. We want to be the thorn in the side of all opposing teams.”

These aspirations will be put to the test during the cup final against Knack Roeselare. “We’ve beaten our neighbors twice this season already. Why not a third time? We approach this with a healthy goal and equally healthy realism. We’re going to turn the Sportpaleis green, with 700 supporters ready to cheer. A celebration on Menen’s market square will follow, no matter the outcome.”