Two weeks into the Women’s Volleyball Nations League, time for a status update as the third week of this elite competition is about to begin. Belgium has secured three victories and currently sits in a relatively safe 14th place. The team that finishes last (18th) will be relegated — something the Yellow Tigers are determined to avoid.

Kris Vansnick, the national team has clearly made progress during this VNL. Initially, sets were narrowly lost. But soon after came key growth moments and even a set win against a top nation like Brazil.
Kris Vansnick: “Against China (set 2), Poland (set 3), and the Dominican Republic (set 3), we lost each time 27-25 — frustratingly close. But then the positives started showing, like the 26-24 win in the second set versus Brazil. Those are confidence-building moments.”

“The third set against Korea was perhaps the most important moment of the whole tournament. That 31-29 win made a world of difference. We were off and running. After winning against Thailand in week one, we claimed a second win over Korea in week two. Then came a dramatic comeback win over Canada: 18-16 in the fifth set, turning a 9-13 deficit around — saving two match points in the process. That was the real Yellow Tigers spirit back in full force.”

“This was a collective win, but captain Britt Herbots played a key role in that comeback. Let’s not forget Canada is ranked 9th globally and just brought in top coach Guidetti. This was a top-level performance by everyone involved in the Belgian team.”

What about Britt Herbots? She will be absent during week three in Apeldoorn, due to her wedding with Andrea Panzeri — who is also assistant coach of the Yellow Tigers. Silke Van Avermaet, another key player, will also miss this week. Time for Plan B?
“No, not at all. This VNL is all about developing and integrating young players. It’s a conscious lead-up to the Euro and World Championship qualifiers. For instance, talents like Tea Radovic and Liese Verhelst are taking significant steps in our team structure.”

“As for Britt — let’s remember she played the Champions League final with Scandicci on May 4th. No other player involved in that match took part in the VNL — except Britt. You can’t always stay at peak tension. Everyone deserves rest. These breaks will help Britt and Silke recharge for the crucial upcoming matches.”

Assistant coach Paul Sens will step in for Andrea Panzeri in the Netherlands. He wasn’t present in China or Turkey due to budget cuts but will rejoin the group in Apeldoorn. As for player replacements, no decision has been made yet. The Belgian shadow squad continued training and played friendlies against the Dutch B team. We’ll evaluate before making a call.

What are the expectations for the final week of the VNL? A sold-out Omnisport arena and plenty of Belgian fans expected in Apeldoorn.
“With our three wins, we’ve picked up bonus points. We're in a good spot, but it’s not over. Unlike top nations who can rest easy and try out younger players, we’re under pressure every match to maintain our place.”

“The matches against France and Poland showed we still need to improve, especially physically. Italy is out of reach, and the Netherlands has home-court advantage. Serbia is surprisingly bottom of the standings and under pressure. And Czechia is performing strongly.”

“It won’t be easy. These are four tough opponents, and we’re still underdogs. But I’m convinced — just like in the past weeks — everyone will give their all. Our collective is getting stronger. Regardless of the results, our growth will continue. We have two weeks to build new routines and compensate for the absence of Britt and Silke. We keep moving forward.”

Text: Walter Vereeck
Image: FIVB/VolleybalWorld