The Red Dragons kicked off the Volleyball World Championship in the Philippines with a bang. In their first group game against Ukraine, the Belgians left no room for doubt with a resounding 3‑0 win (25‑16, 25‑17, 25‑22). Man of the match was Ferre Reggers, who put in 23 points and immediately put his stamp on the game.

Together with Seppe Rotty (13 points), Sam Deroo (12), Coolman (6), and Fafchamps (2), he laid the foundations for a dominant performance, with support from Lantsoght, D’Hulst, and substitutes D’Heer, Van Hoyweghen, Dermaux, and Perin. For the Dragons, this clash with Ukraine was far more than just an opener—it was a key date on the schedule. With head coach Emanuele Zanini at the helm, Belgium’s team showed from the very first point that their mental focus and physical preparation were on point. Lead attacker Ferre Reggers, backed by a collectively strong block and at times lethal serving, quickly forced Ukraine onto the back foot, and—except for a brief spell in set three—the Belgians never lost control. Seppe Rotty also stood out, delivering five aces. The stats were telling: Belgium scored 40 attacks, 10 blocks, and 6 aces and made only 15 errors in three sets.

Seppe, a 3-0 victory over Ukraine in your first World Championship match: how does that feel?
“It feels fantastic! Especially because this was actually our most important match of the tournament. Everyone had this one marked on the calendar and we knew we had to perform to keep our path to the Round of 16 open. As for my first impression: look, we hadn’t played many high‑level reference matches, so to put up such a strong performance right away fills us with confidence. The team played collectively, everyone did their job. Sometimes everything just clicks, and that’s what happened on Sunday. Even in the third set, when Ukraine briefly fought back, we kept our focus and scored the key points when it mattered.”

Set by set: how did you experience the match?
“Set 1 was almost perfect. We had a lot of variety, the blocks worked, and the serving pressure was good. Ferre was incredible and put away every ball he got. Set 2 was more tense; Ukraine switched setters and improved, but every time we increased serving pressure, things got difficult for them. Set 3 was a short thriller. We made a few mistakes, mainly from lapses in concentration, but always felt in control. That’s the great thing: we are mentally strong and stay focused till the end.”

You served an ace in the third set at 122 km/h… what went through your mind?
(laughs) “That was a fun moment! I once hit 129 km/h in Roeselare, so no complaints. But more important than the speed was the boost it gave the team’s confidence. In the end, it’s about the team, not one ace.”

Reggers played a fantastic match. What makes him so important?
“Ferre is simply one of those players who puts everything away. He kept scoring from impossible angles. His Italian experience and composure on court give us a huge boost. Again, he proved he’s one of the best opposites in the world. Together with Sam Deroo, Pieter Coolman, and young talents like Sam Fafchamps and Gorik Lantsoght, we have a great mix of experience and youthful energy. That’s decisive at moments like these.”

Ukraine sometimes didn’t double-block Reggers. Can you understand that?
“Yes, it stood out straight away. And no, we didn’t get it… They often left Ferre with single coverage, focusing on the middle instead. Lucky for us we have a setter in D’Hulst who saw this immediately and played to our teammates who got more space. Ferre himself stayed cool and gratefully accepted the chances. He kept jumping and scoring, which gave the whole team lots of confidence. It shows our teamwork: we can give each other opportunities, respond collectively, and still stay in control.”

Coach Zanini had a paper in his pocket reading ‘3-0’. Was that a light joke or genuine confidence?
“Knowing Zanini, it was symbolic—a way of reminding us and himself that we could do this. He was visibly under pressure these last days, but always focused. That note showed how seriously he took preparation. It was no joke: it was mentally and physically tough, but we found the right balance at the right time and that’s paying off.”

What are things like in the Philippines—hotel, environment, team spirit?
“Very professional! We’re staying in a great hotel, though not everyone has an ice bath, so we buy ice packs at the supermarket. I’m sharing a room with Samuel Fafchamps, just like in our youth teams. Food is great: buffet style, international cuisine, fresh pasta. Off court, the group clicks very well, which helps on court too. It’s warm and humid, but everywhere is air-conditioned, so we just have to be careful not to catch a cold.”

What about volleyball’s popularity in the Philippines? Are the local fans much involved?
“It’s amazing playing here. Volleyball is really popular, the people are enthusiastic and very friendly. They’re always asking for photos and want to chat—really open to the sport. But what was striking: despite Ukraine being well supported, there were even more Belgian fans in the arena, with flags, clappers—everything to cheer us on. That fires us up. Here in Manila, it almost feels like home with such a warm crowd.”

How do you prepare, mentally and physically, for the next match against Italy?
“Italy is a different calibre: reigning world champions. The big difference is that we need to play even more freely next time because today there was serious pressure. Maybe that’ll help us find even more in our game. We’ll keep focusing on recovery, light training, and video analysis. The main thing is to start fresh and confident. Not to take it lightly—but we’ll go for the win, although we must stay realistic.”

And if you reach the round of 16? France or Argentina are possible opponents. What’s your view?
“Could be either. France are Olympic champs, Argentina have a lot of experience. For us, it doesn’t matter; we just have to give everything and play our best volleyball. But Finland’s also a possibility, given they only narrowly lost to Argentina. Personally, I hope we can keep this momentum going. We feel strong mentally and physically as a team and confident under pressure. Whoever we face, we’ll go for our chance.”

What does this win mean for you, at this point in your career?
“It’s a huge feeling of satisfaction. A performance like this at a World Championship opens doors, builds confidence, and motivates us to aim higher. For the team, it’s a statement: we can compete at this level, which gives a lot of hope for the rest of the tournament. For the fans, I hope above all they see how much we’re giving—that volleyball is alive and we can enjoy this adventure together.”

Text: Kenny Hennens
Photo: FIVB