Greenyard Maaseik claimed a commanding 3-1 victory (25-22, 23-25, 25-19, 25-21) over arch-rivals Roeselare in an electrifying Volley League showdown on May 13, 2026. The home side produced a scintillating attacking display to underline their title credentials and extend their winning streak in front of a passionate crowd at the Steengoed Arena.

Match Overview

From the first serve, both teams showed why they are perennial contenders in Belgian volleyball. Maaseik, playing under the bright lights of a late-night fixture (02:30 local start), came out firing with aggressive serving and a well-balanced offense. Roeselare, always dangerous in transition, kept the score tight in the opening set but could not contain Maaseik’s middle-block pressure. The visitors bounced back in the second set, capitalising on a rare service slump from the home team to level the match. However, Maaseik regrouped after the interval, tightening their block defence and letting their outside hitters take over in the third and fourth sets.

Key Moments That Decided the Match

• First set turnaround: Trailing 18-20, Maaseik won seven of the next nine points, sparked by two consecutive aces from opposite hitter Simon Van De Velde.
• Roeselare’s second-set response: A 4-0 run in the middle of the second set, powered by middle blocker Lukas D’Hulst, forced a 23-23 tie. The visitors then sealed the set 25-23 on a Maaseik hitting error.
• Defining third set: Maaseik raced to an 8-3 lead behind three crushing blocks from captain Jelle Vliegen. Roeselare never recovered, with the home side hitting over 50% in attack.
• Clutch closing: In the fourth set, Roeselare pulled within 22-21, but Maaseik answered with a kill from Seppe Van Hirtum and a stuff block on the next rally to close out the match.

Tactical Battle: Serving and Blocking Win the Night

Maaseik’s game plan centred on pressuring Roeselare’s reception with jump float serves directed at their libero. The tactic paid dividends: the visitors committed six reception errors over the four sets, disrupting their fast-tempo offense. At the net, Maaseik recorded 12 blocks—seven coming in the third and fourth sets alone—compared to Roeselare’s seven. Coach Henri Engels rotated his middles effectively, keeping Roeselare’s attackers guessing. Roeselare, by contrast, relied heavily on their star opposite Arno Van Avermaet, who posted 18 kills but also made five attacking errors under the growing block pressure.

Standout Performers

• Seppe Van Hirtum (Maaseik) – The outside hitter led all scorers with 22 points (18 kills, 3 blocks, 1 ace) and a 52% attack efficiency. His cross-court shots in the fourth set were unstoppable.
• Jelle Vliegen (Maaseik) – The captain contributed 8 blocks and 10 kills, anchoring the middle of the net. His leadership during the third-set surge was critical.
• Arno Van Avermaet (Roeselare) – Despite the loss, the opposite hitter kept his team in the match with powerful shots down the line. He added 2 aces but was limited by Maaseik’s double-block setup in the latter stages.

Table and Season Impact

The victory moves Maaseik to second place in the Volley League standings, now just two points behind league leaders Menen with a game in hand. Roeselare drops to fourth, but remains within striking distance of the playoff spots. This head-to-head result could prove decisive in the race for home-court advantage in the post-season. Maaseik’s improved blocking numbers (averaging over 10 per match in their last three wins) suggest they are peaking at the right time.

For Roeselare, the challenge now is to regroup quickly ahead of a midweek clash against Aalst. Head coach Tom Van Loock will need to find solutions against elite blocking defences, as his team has now dropped three of their last four away matches against top‑five opponents.

With the 2025‑26 title race growing tighter every week, this 3‑1 victory may well be remembered as the moment Maaseik announced themselves as serious championship contenders.