The schedule for the Volley Nations League has been announced, and we gathered reactions from head coach Kris Vansnick.

The coach emphasized the crucial role of the tournament in achieving the team's long-term goals, particularly improving their world ranking and pursuing a spot at the 2028 Olympics.

“Happy to have the chance to play in the VNL again,” Vansnick begins. According to the coach, this prestigious tournament not only provides an opportunity to play against the best teams in the world but also to collect valuable points for the world ranking. “It’s the tournament where you can earn the most points to improve the world ranking,” he explains. These points are vital in the run-up to the Olympics.

Another point Vansnick highlights is the locations and the exciting pool matches. With the third playing week in the Netherlands, part of the action takes place close to home, offering extra motivation for both players and supporters. “It’s a very nice pool with matches against Italy, the Netherlands, Serbia, and the Czech Republic. Especially the match against the Czech Republic is important in terms of the ranking.”

Furthermore, the Tigers will also face teams like Thailand, France, Canada, the Dominican Republic, and South Korea. Vansnick sees opportunities here: “These are all teams we see chances of winning against. We absolutely aim to win against them to secure our place in the VNL.”
Maintaining a spot in the VNL is, according to Vansnick, a top priority. “To stay in the VNL, we need to keep one team behind us. In the long term, the most important thing is to remain in the VNL if we want to work towards the 2028 Olympics.”

Finally, the coach and players call on fans to come and support the Tigers. With a series of attractive matches and locations close to home, this is the perfect chance to see the team live in action. “These are absolutely great matches for our spectators.” The Yellow Tigers face an intense but promising VNL campaign. With a clear vision and goals, coach Kris Vansnick is aiming for a successful participation that lays a solid foundation for the future of Belgian women’s volleyball.