'6:0 → 7:7 → 11:7 → 11:12 → 15:13' Such a great match in the opening game... 'Kang So-hwi Daejeon' GS Caltex laughed. Thirty-nine-point Silva and 18 blocks. I'm not weak.
Sep 29, 2024
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GS Caltex beat Korea Expressway Corporation by a set score of 3-2 (25-19, 23-25, 22-25, 25-19, 15-13) at the opening match of the women's team at the 2024 Tongyeong and Dodram Cup Professional Volleyball Championship held at Tongyeong Gymnasium on the 29th. Coach Lee Young-taek, who is in charge of GS Caltex, won his first victory.
It was a cup competition held amid the evaluation that the team's power was leveled up due to the movement of FA big fish such as Kang So-hwi, Lee So-young and Lee Ju-ah, and the Asian quarter, and interest was high because it was a good opportunity to see a proper history ahead of the regular league by participating in both foreign players and Asian quarters..
The Korea Expressway Corporation, which recruited FA Kang So-hwi, formed a triangular formation of Uni and foreign player Nikolo Baro in the Asian quarter to strengthen its offense and quickly emerged as a favorite. GS Caltex, where Kang So-hwi left, re-signed foreign player Silva under the leadership of new coach Lee Young-taek, and brought in a tall outside heater Wyler (Australia) of 1m95 in the Asian quarter to reinforce his height. Kwon Min-ji was used as the new domestic main gun, announcing a new start. Coincidentally, Kang So-hwi met with GS Caltex, his mother-in-law, in the first game of the transfer, and it became more interesting.
The biggest factor in GS Caltex's victory, which was considered inferior, was blocking. The blocking wall was well equipped from the first set, and 18 blocks caught the road corporation's attack on the day, showing a big difference from the road corporation with only seven. Wyler made 6 blocks, Kwon Min-ji made 4 and Silva and Oh Se-yeon made 3 blocks each, raising expectations for this season.
In the first set, which was a close game, GS Caltex won by blocking. GS Caltex, which was trailing 15-17, tied the score 17-17 with Silva's back attack and blocking, and Kwon Min-ji blocked Nicolova's back attack, then succeeded in a quick open attack, and blocked Kim Hyun-jung's moving attack again, turning the game around 20-17 at once. Nicolova and Kang So-hwi's mistakes were made, and it was 24-19, and GS Caltex grabbed the first set 25-19 with Silva's spike.
In the beginning of the second set, he shook the opponent's receiving line with Nikolova's strong serve, and Bae Yuna's fastball worked to lead the game 10-4. However, GS Caltex also quickly maintained the game to chase Silva and Weiler, and Silva's spike tied the game at 16-16, bringing the game to square one. In the ensuing close game, the game was won by blocking. Nikolova's spike gave the road corporation a 24-23 lead, with Bae Yuna blocking Silva's spike to clinch the victory.
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However, GS Caltex did not give up. He won the fourth set 25-19 with Silva at the forefront, and as soon as he started in the fifth set, he scored five points to catch the flow. Wyler blocked Nicolova's spike to win a point, and following Silva's consecutive attacks, Wyler blocked Nicolova once again. And even Oh Se-yeon blocked Kang So-hwi's attack, making it 5-0 at once. And as Wyler blocked Nicolova again, GS Caltex's atmosphere soared into the sky.
But the road corporation came along frighteningly. At 1-7, Nikolova's spike, opponent's mistake, and Lee Ye-eun's serve ace were followed, and Jeon Sae-an's blocking made it 7-7. However, GS Caltex had a big shot Silva. Silva made it 8-7 with a powerful spike, then immediately put in a serve ace, and made it 10-7 by himself with a back attack. And it seemed as if Wyler was actually taking the game as he blocked Nicolova to make it 11-7. However, the Korea Expressway Corporation also tied the score 11-11 again with Nicolova's strong serve, and Bae Yuna blocked Wyler to turn the game around 12-11. However, Silva's three consecutive back-strikes turned the tables 14-12. GS Caltex laughed as Jeon Sae-an's serve was out at 13-14.
GS Caltex scored 39 points with Silva achieving a triple crown, Wyler scored 23 points and Kwon Min-ji scored 17 points, showing good performance in the triangular formation. The Korea Expressway Corporation scored 31 points as Nicolova achieved a triple crown in her Korean debut, while Kang So-hwi added 16 points and Uni added 11 points.
indyk@sportschosun.com
