After two consecutive promotions, Central Limburg club HVC Helchteren has been promoted to the highest level in women’s volleyball: the Walhalla of Liga A. The top twelve in the country. Quite a big step for the ambitious club with 13 teams in competition and 200 members. The steep climb led to a lot of euphoria, but chairman Marc Daniëls and coach Pascal Gora prefer to emphasise ‘some sense of realism’.

“In recent years it has all gone very fast. A lot is coming our way and will continue to do so. A whole lot of challenges are lurking around the corner: fitting in more training hours, keeping track of the licence requirements, building a viable core, optimising transport capacity for the long trips, gaining more budgetary leeway and expanding the board, via working groups, ideally with the support of a small group of volunteers. We think our mission has a chance of success.”

May I say that you are very proud of everything that has been achieved in recent months?
Marc Daniëls: “Most certainly. With HVC Helchteren, Limburg finally has a standard-bearer at the highest women’s level again, after the sad exit of Ladies Volley Limburg Genk. We try to fill that new leading role to the best of our ability. At the end of the season there will be one team relegated, we do not want to be that team. For that we look at fellow promoted side Vamos Stekene-Sint-Gillis-Waas and other competitors such as KwadrO Amigos Zoersel, Vlavo Saturnus Michelbeke or Dok Noord Gent.”

How did you tackle the many challenges?
“We definitely did not sit still. A lot of things were examined closely, because our promotion must not be a gamble in thin air. On our debut we want to be more than a one-day fly. With the full focus on survival. Thanks to the expanded support of our Diamond Sponsor, the well-known Zonhoven company OBEN (a family business in windows and doors), and other loyal sponsors, we were able to increase the budget by 40 to 50 percent. For the trips we concluded an advantageous agreement to rent two vans (Renault Trafic), with which the whole team can travel comfortably in two groups. We increased the number of training sessions from two to three and we also train longer overall. About 8 hours per week. The city of Houthalen-Helchteren is chipping in with the supply of an LED scoreboard, a new SR chair and the cabling for livestreaming match footage.”

In advance you consulted Marie De Clerck, the CEO of the Belgian Lotto Volleyball League. Did she easily give you the green light to take the step?
“Absolutely. Some licence requirements have become a bit less heavy. Thankfully. Our municipal sports hall is too low, but that is not a problem. We can never play the play-off finals there. Oops: (laughs) we won’t get that far in our debut season anyway. Okay then. It is true that new licence conditions and requirements regarding homologation will soon be decided. Work is underway on that. It concerns the use of video challenge (7 of the 12 clubs would already apply that) and playing with at least one semi-professional player in the ranks. The team that finishes highest without having video challenge would be obliged to purchase that system. Gradually, until all 12 clubs are in order. On the medical front, physiotherapist Maik Tysiak has committed through his brand-new practice in Helchteren to overseeing physical testing, strength training, prevention and fitness: once a week in a group session. New in our approach. Maik is the brother of the ambitious footballer Red Flame Amber Tysiak (ex-Genk and ex-OHL Leuven). And Maik himself has a football past at Genk and Lommel. He masters the medical sports matter like no other. I also think we can attract a lot of viewers if we invite sports stars like Amber Tysiak (playing in the German Bundesliga at Union Berlin) and the Limburg native Ward Lemmelijn to serve the first ball. Hopefully that will be full house here at home.”

HVC has signed a core of 14 players. But in reality two women are not available. Is that correct?
“Yes, former Yellow Tiger Lore Gillis (main attacker) is only willing to step in as stand-in in case of emergency. Very understandable. With her family and job, she no longer finds the time to run the full weekly programme. Same for Tara Daerden (libero), partner of head coach Pascal Gora. Tara normally does not play either. She is not in the picture. But she will take a seat on the bench. She functions as the ‘cornstarch’ of the team. From her experience she is the ideal binding agent to stimulate the right tactics and team spirit.”

Did other changes come about in the core?
“Indeed. We welcome four new faces: Joke Van Hout (ex-LVT As, reception-wing, daughter of volleyball couple Wim Van Hout (Achel) and Mireille Van Oosterhout (among others Tongeren). Furthermore Hannelore Pass (ex-VC Geel), the Hasselt native Anouck Van Bouwel (reception-wing) from Volley Noorderkempen and Hanne Lemmelijn (middle), also from Noorderkempen. Hanne is the sister of top indoor rower Ward Lemmelijn: recently a new celebrity after remarkably successful media appearances. Not there anymore are Noor Janssen (libero, very busy as a final-year medicine student), Elise Baert (middle, on an ‘Erasmus’ exchange in Barcelona) and Ghislaine Smeets (middle, moved to the Topsportschool in Vilvoorde).”

Who are the stayers?
“It concerns Jella Mentens (reception-wing), daughter of volleyball couple Gert Mentens and Mieke Gielen, Lotte Pareyn (libero, daughter of referee Walter Pareyn), Noa Peeters (reception-wing, family of Helena Gilson/Kieldrecht), Nina Bussé (setter, daughter of Geert Bussé, the new chairman of VTI Hasselt men), the Lummen twins Marie (middle) and Emma Meynckens (setter), Koersel’s Jess Daniëls (main attacker) and our team captain Celine Reijmen from Hechtel (reception-wing, daughter of Marc Reijmen and niece of Franky Reijmen). Celine has a long track record with us.”

A question for the T1: Pascal, how did the preparation go?
“We worked very hard. Via sparring matches against SAB Diving Brabo Antwerp, E.S. Charleroi, Volley Noorderkempen, KwadrO Amigos Zoersel, Dok Noord Gent, Wevoc Wellen, Stalvoc Beverlo and the Dutch club Utrecht. Quite a big bite to digest for the young group. Necessary anyway because a number of players have to overcome a double league difference in a short time. On the other hand we hope to quickly guide HVC Helchteren B, led by coach Evert Van de Perre, upwards (currently active in Promo 1) to activate new talent lines that can make the connection with the level of Liga A.”

Do the first matches of HVC immediately speak to the imagination?
“Yes, definitely. Tough opposition features on our opening schedule. We open at home on 3 October against VC Oudegem. Then we travel to Vlavo Saturnus Michelbeke, after which Capital at Work Tchalou comes to visit. In the Belgian Cup (knock-out duel) we fight at home on 31 October against SAB Diving Brabo Antwerp. That will be a great clash between our twins Marie and Emma Meynckens against their sister Laura on the Antwerp side of the net. Very exciting, if only for the prestige attached to it.”

The fully documented technical sheet with year of birth and height can be found on the website of the Belgian Lotto Volley League.
The technical staff consists of Pascal Gora (T1, left in the photo), Jurgen Holtof (T2, right in the photo), scout Maarten Gielkens, physiotherapist Maik Tysiak, Erik Ceyssens (general organisation) and team manager Kurt Vranken.
Text: Leo Peeters
Photo: HVC Helchteren