Yellow Tigers sisterhood: Ilka & Jutta Van de Vyver
Story of the Day
The bond between sisters is something very special. Often they grow up together, they exchange advice and they share passions.
In Gert Van De Broek's Belgium there is a special bond and it is the one represented by the Van De Vyver sisters. On the jerseys they have the 15 and the 17. They are both setters and both of them orchestrate the Belgium spikers.
Ilka, blond hair, is 28 years old and is the current captain of the Belgian national team of which she has been part since 2012. Jutta, brown hair, is 25 years old and plays in Belgium for Asterix Avo Beveren.
Ilka Van de Vyver"This is the third time we are playing together for the national team. It's great to have someone from your family over here especially as it's not possible to have a lot of Belgian fans in the arena. It's nice to have time after the game to chill a little bit with a person you know you can fully confide in and tell your emotions without being judged."
Captain and setter Team Belgium
Jutta Van de Vyver"For me it is a wonderful experience to be here with her and especially to see her play for our national team. I learn a lot from her."
Setter Team Belgium
Joining the national team is above all an excuse to spend time together and recover those moments that due to volleyball lead them to stay away.
My sister in the back.
My sister has my back.
My sister and her bag.
My sister looks at my back.
My sister, to her I’ll always go back!
(Ilka Van de Vyver - Instagram Profile)
Ilka Van de Vyver"Sometimes it's not easy to be sisters and teammates at the same time. During the season, when I play in a non-Belgian club while she plays in Belgium, we don't see each other much but she comes to visit me as soon as she can and that's very nice. Then when we start training together, most of the time we always have big arguments at the beginning but then everything calms down and the summer runs smoothly. It's just to accept a little bit how to manage our position in the team."
Captain and setter Team Belgium
Ilka Van de Vyver"During the season, when one of us has a problem, immediately call the other and we are on the phone, even crying, maybe for three hours. Then it happens that for two weeks we don't hear from each other."
Captain and setter Team Belgium
