A team stronger than the volleyball empress, GS Caltex

GS Caltex players are delighted to defeat Heungkuk Life Insurance 3-0 in the second leg of the championship match. GS Caltex only left one win until the championship. [뉴스1]

Did you say that there is no player greater than the team? ‘Team GS Caltex’ was stronger than’Volleyball Empress’. GS Caltex, a women’s professional volleyball player, is one step closer to the combined win.

GS Caltex won the 2nd leg of the 2020-21 season V-League Women’s Championship (5 matches, 3 wins) held at the Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul on the 28th with a set score of 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-16). Following the first leg (3-0 wins), it has two consecutive wins, and if you add only one win, you will win. All teams that won the first and second matches in the previous championships won. Game 3 will be held at 7 pm on the 30th at Gyeyang Gym, Incheon, the home of Heungkuk Life Insurance.

Following the first game, the second game was a one-sided game. GS Caltex dominated the opponent throughout the game. Meretta Lutz (17 points) showed a 2m6cm tall bang and blocking. So-young Lee (16 points) and So-hui Kang (18 points) also flew in karate. Ahn Hye-jin, an inexperienced setter, shook the opponent with smooth ball distribution and sharp serve.

GS Caltex also took the lead in the atmosphere fight. GS Caltex Han Su-ji, who had undergone ankle surgery, played in the second half of the game, boosting the morale of the players. When the game resumed after the operation time was over, even the bench members shouted fighting together. GS Caltex coach Cha Sang-hyun, who first entered the championship game, said, “I was more tense than the players,” but he led the players with an appropriate time of operation and a quick and powerful way of speaking.

Heungkuk Life Insurance Kim Yeon-kyung struggled to score 13 points, the most in the team in the first game. He also showed his fighting spirit even with finger injuries. Heungkuk Life Insurance Director Park Mi-hee worried that “physical strength is fine. The burden of responsibility is greater than that of running a lot and hitting the ball a lot. As a leader, you have to do many things, and the feeling of weight will build up with fatigue.”

Worry became reality. On this day, Kim Yeon-kyung took on several roles in serve, blocking, and receive. But alone, he couldn’t change the flow of the game. From the middle of the 2nd set, he showed a tough look. In the end, the attack success rate (28.6%) was only half of the first game (59.1%). Together with the foreign player Bruna, he scored 11 points, the most in the team, but couldn’t prevent his defeat.

Kim Yeon-kyung makes a high-five with a sad face after losing the game. Reporter Minkyu Kim

After the game, manager Park Mi-hee said, “I caught up to the 1st set of 1 point, but I missed it. There are some things the opponent did well, but we can’t defend in normal play and we can’t. It’s difficult because there are two low places in blocking.” said.

Manager Park said, “I had an advantage to go home because I played well today. (Sorry.) I think I have to reorganize and develop my concentration not to miss an ordinary ball rather than suddenly change my skills.”

GS Caltex coach Cha Sang-hyun said, “It seemed to be easy to win, but there was a hump. The first set was a little swayed, and I couldn’t catch the balls that had to be held in the second set. Regarding Suji Han, who had come back after her injury, she explained, “Suji continued to want to be helpful as the best person at least a little. The hospital judged that it might be unreasonable, but she had a strong desire to be helpful for her juniors.”

Coach Cha said, “After entering the postseason, the players are definitely doing well, and when I meet Heungkuk, I feel confident. I’ve been dragging a team for several years, but when I’m with other teams, it’s difficult when I’m nervous or when the tempo is low and I’m trying to make full use of the strategy,” said Cha. When I meet Heungkuk, my concentration is good. It seems to work well.” He said, “You shouldn’t flutter. I’ll concentrate until the end.”

Reporter Kim Hyo-kyung [email protected]