Belgian club volleyball is currently making an exceptionally strong impression in European competitions. Knack Roeselare is still competing in the CEV Champions League, Greenyard Maaseik has a chance to reach the semifinals of the CEV Cup, and Lindemans Aalst is close to securing a spot in the CEV Challenge Cup final. Belgian volleyball has seldom been so clearly visible on the European stage.

“It’s time for the media to talk more about volleyball itself again,” says Johan Devoghel, sports director at Lindemans Aalst. “In recent weeks, most of what you hear or read concerns transfers, while Belgian clubs are performing exceptionally well in Europe. That deserves to be highlighted.”

In Aalst, the focus is fully on the sporting side
Johan Devoghel: “We are currently focusing on the competitions, where the battle is still in full swing, both nationally and internationally. Several objectives remain on our list. In the national league, we are fighting for the Challenge Play-offs, and in Europe we are still competing in the CEV Challenge Cup. Those are the priorities for now. Meanwhile, we are of course also working on the future. Soon we will share news about our long-term plans, both on and off the court.”

Aalst: inconsistent nationally, impressive in Europe
“It’s true that our performances in the league have been inconsistent. But the overall picture needs nuance. We have also played strong matches in the Lotto Volley League. It remains unfortunate that we couldn’t qualify for the BeNe League. Against the top-four teams, we only managed to win in Maaseik and Menen, and we let that last home match against Maaseik slip away.”

A unique European opportunity to offset the disappointment
“When you have a real chance of reaching a European final, that compensates for a lot. Performances like these greatly increase the club’s visibility. That’s important for our partners, our supporters, and for players who might consider joining Aalst. It’s more than a bonus: it’s a huge sporting added value.”

And nothing is decided yet…
“The first leg against Bratislava immediately showed how tough the task is. The historic second set, which ended at an unbelievable 44-42, perfectly illustrated how small the margins are at this level and how minimal the difference is between the two teams. Coach Frank Depestele and the players know that nothing is secured yet. Bratislava is a very experienced team. We delivered an excellent performance in the first leg and deserved the win, but the return match starts from scratch. Everyone realizes this will be a huge challenge.”

A potential final would undoubtedly spark a city-wide celebration
“If we don’t make it, it will obviously be disappointing. But if we do, Aalst will once again experience a fantastic volleyball celebration.

With Greenyard Maaseik and Knack Roeselare also performing excellently, awareness is growing that our league is doing outstanding work. What these clubs – and others – are showing in Europe is pure promotion for Belgian volleyball. These are the stories that push the sport forward.”

Photo: Facebookpagina Lindemans Aalst
Text: WV