Helene Rousseaux shines in PVL debut with 38 points as Farm Fresh outlasts Nxled

Helene Rousseaux’s long-awaited return to the court wasn’t just a comeback — it was a statement.

After seven months of recovery from a devastating ankle injury, the Belgian star stormed back into action and lit up the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference with one of the most dominant debuts the league has ever seen.

Behind Rousseaux’s explosive 38-point masterclass, the Farm Fresh Foxies rallied past the Nxled Chameleons, 22-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-21, on Thursday at the Dasmariñas Arena — an early declaration that the Foxies’ rebuilt lineup means business this season.

Rousseaux, who last played in Turkey before her injury, showed no signs of rust. She unloaded 31 kills, four aces, and three blocks, while also taking charge on defense with 15 excellent receptions and eight digs — an all-around display that set the tone for Farm Fresh’s new era.

For head coach Alessandro Lodi, the performance was the payoff of more than just scouting talent. It was about finding the right leader to anchor a young team still carving its identity. 

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FOXIES TAKE WIN NO. 1! 🦊

⚔️ : FARM FRESH 🦊 vs. NXLED 🦎

Watch the games on:
📺 : One Sports | One Sports+
📲 : Pilipinas Live#PVL2025 | #TheHeartOfVolleyball pic.twitter.com/uhILXWLVlW

— Premier Volleyball League (@pvlph) October 9, 2025

“I have a lot of experience. I’ve coached many years in many countries and recruited many players, and you have to understand what the right player is for your team, but also what the right person is,” said Lodi.

“Long story short, the good thing I did was picking not only the right player, which was kinda easy to do, but picking the right person… And Eli is the perfect person to complement this team, to work with this team, work for the others, and the others work for her.”

The Foxies’ chemistry shone through in the clutch moments. Down 19-23 in the fourth, they refused to fold, closing the gap before Alohi Robins-Hardy broke Nxled’s rhythm with a daring 1-2 play. Then, fittingly, Rousseaux sealed the win with a decisive block against Paola Martinez, capping off a two-hour and 15-minute thriller.

Veteran Ces Molina, making her own Farm Fresh debut, chipped in nine points, while Trisha Tubu added 10. Robins-Hardy steered the offense with 27 excellent sets and scored six points, including two service aces.

On the other side, Nxled found bright spots in Chiara Permentilla’s 18-point, 12-reception outing and Paola Martinez’s 15 markers. But it wasn’t enough to stop a rejuvenated Farm Fresh squad that played with heart — and a touch of Belgian brilliance.

The Foxies and Chameleons now get a week to regroup before returning to action at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with Farm Fresh set to face Cignal and Nxled meeting Capital1 next Thursday.

For Rousseaux, though, this debut was about more than a win — it was proof that resilience, when paired with purpose, can turn a comeback into a career-defining moment.

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