Youngsters carry the hopes of Asterix Avo BEVEREN in #CLVolleyW
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With an average of just 20 years, Asterix Avo BEVEREN of Belgium have the youngest roster among the teams participating in the 2022 edition of the women’s CEV Champions League Volley. After losing 1-3 to Olympiacos PIRAEUS on Tuesday night, the Belgians will try to use the home-court advantage in the return match early next week to secure their spot in the 2nd Round.
Libero Noor Debouck just turned 16 this summer. She does not lack international experience, since she has been a member of the Belgian youth national team, the Young Yellow Tigers, since 2018. However, this is the first time she will compete in a European club competition. Her journey begins with nothing less than the elite CEV Champions League. “I grab this opportunity with both hands, in order to learn as much as possible and to improve my skills. I feel very much supported by the staff and the other players,” she says.
Outside hitter Jana Thierens has similar goals, and a similar background with the Young Yellow Tigers.
“In international competitions with the youth national team, we always face teams of the same age group. With the club, we will face the best players in Europe, with no regard to age. That is an extra challenge and it gives us a real boost.”
The 17-year-old middle blocker Anna Koulberg is also very enthusiastic. Both her parents, Anja Duyck and Sacha Koulberg, were top-level players with a lot of international experience. Anna is eager to follow their paths, but is also realistic enough to realise that it will require a lot of hard work to achieve a top international level. Becoming a Yellow Tiger is definitely one of her goals.
For outside spiker Eline Van Elsen this is already the second year with Asterix Avo, although she is only 17 years old too. The previous year was somewhat bizarre, due to the pandemic. Parents and family can now attend the games and passionately express their full support for the players. Her elder brother Lennert is a Red Dragon (i.e. a member of Belgium’s senior men’s team), and is a source of inspiration for Eline.
The fifth of the youngsters is setter Luna Van Acker. Asterix Avo is her first club team, so she is excited about the special atmosphere that comes with a club boasting such a rich history. “Some twenty-five fans joined the team on the trip to Greece, and that gave us an extra boost. The fact that we knew that they were cheering for us was a great mental help.”
Head coach Kris Vansnick is also quite excited to work with this young and ambitious group:
“They know that there is a lot of hard work ahead, so if they want to achieve their goals of becoming a top-level volleyball player, they give all they have. And in this way, they stimulate the other players in the team as well.”
