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| 허수봉. Photo courtesy =KOVO |
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| 정한용. 사진제공=KOVO |
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| A meeting between the captains of both teams Shin Young-seok and Thomas Beretta, provided with photos =KOVO |
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The V League All-Star beat Monza, a prestigious Italian team, to preheat the volleyball fever ahead of the opening of the new season.
Team KOVO (V League All-Star) won the 2024 Korean-Italian men's volleyball global super match, Vero Bali Monza, with a set score of 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-18) at Suwon Indoor Gymnasium on the 8th.
The V-League All-Star won in front of home fans for the second consecutive day after Korean Air, the winner of the fourth consecutive victory in the previous day, won the set score 3-1 against Monza. Starting with Shin Young-seok in 'Volleyball President', all V-League All-Stars from veterans representing the V-League to young stars such as Heo Soo-bong, Shin Sung-jin, Lim Dong-hyuk, Shin Young-seok, Han Tae-joon, and Jeong Han-yong, who are Kim Ji-han and Lim Sung-jin. 3049 volleyball fans filled the scene.
Monza is famous for the team that Lee Woo-jin, who played for the U-20 national team, joined. Monza is a prestigious team that won the runner-up prize in the Super Lega (Italy's first division) last year. It is full of leading stars such as middle blocker (MB) Taylor Avril (USA), who won the bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, world-renowned setter Fernando Creling (Brazil), outside heater (OH), and Osmani Juan Torrena (Italy).
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| Macimo Ekelie Monza director. Photo courtesy =KOVO |
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| Kim Sang-woo, head coach of V League All-Star (Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance). Photo courtesy =KOVO |
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This is the first exchange between Korean and Italian professional volleyball. This year, it was held to commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
It is difficult for Monchado and V-League All-Stars, who have newly formed their squad ahead of the new season, to show perfect teamwork. But the players were outspoken in throwing themselves on the floor and delighted the fans with their passion to chase them over the bench to get the ball. Monza's field commander Creling appeared to encourage his teammates by yelling loudly as the players did not work well.
Kim Ho-chul, head coach of IBK Industrial Bank of Korea, as a special commentator, said "Our players' organizational skills stood out. He praised his performance in front of his fans. On the other hand, against Monza, `I don't think they showed 100% of their skills. In particular, Krelling is a player who usually passes much faster, but he had a relatively stable game management today."
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| Fernandu Krelling. Photo courtesy =KOVO |
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Singer Soyou, a former member of the group SISTAR, and singer Jeon Yoo-jin, a former member of the group Miss Trot Season 2, performed a celebratory performance. Soyou entertained fans by singing hits such as 'Some' and 'Officially Missing You'. Jeon Yoo-jin also heated up the atmosphere on the site by singing the national song 'Beautiful Gangsan' following 'Neverland'.
The V-League All-Star won the first set by pressing Monza with Heo Soo-bong, Jeon Kwang-in, and Shin Young-seok triangular formation. In the first set 15-13, setter Roh Jae-wook's serve ace gained momentum, and in the 23-19, Kim Jung-ho scored a spike serve to win the game. Monza struggled with seven points by Apogit Rawani.
The second set was also a victory for the V-League All-Star. The beginning of the set was tight to 8-8, but Kim Jung-ho and Jeon Kwang-in shook the opponent's receiving line to lead 11-8, 16-13. Jeon Kwang-in and Heo Soo-bong played a clear troubleshooter, although they allowed a 19-19 tie to the opponent's fierce chase in the last minute. It was up to Kim Jihan to finish.
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| 신영석. 사진제공=KOVO |
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The V-League All-Star, who gained momentum, overwhelmingly pushed Moncha in the third set, widely using newcomers Han Tae-joon, Kim Ji-han, and Shin Ji-jin. A series of super digs poured out around Libero Park Kyung-min and Jung Min-soo, and they blocked Monza's attack with a solid blocking wall and finished the game with a shutdown.
In the V League All-Star, national ace Huh Soo-bong led the attack with 14 points and two blocks (57.14% attack success rate), followed by Shin Young-seok (12 points) and Jeon Kwang-in (11 points). Monza was followed by Martilla (10 points) and Lee Woo-jin (9 points) amid the struggles of Rawani (13 points), but it was not enough to stop the V-League All-Star.
The V League will start its official schedule this season, starting with the KOVO Cup, which will open in Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do on the 21st.
lunarfly@sportschosun.com
