The women’s professional volleyball playoffs (PO, 2 wins in 3 matches) are in the hands of the setters.
2022-23 Dodram V-League Women’s Regular League 2nd place Hyundai E&C and 3rd place Korea Expressway Corporation (Highway Corporation) will play the first PO game at Suwon Gymnasium on the 23rd. Kang Seong-hyeong, coach of Hyundai E&C, showed confidence, saying, “We have come this far (PO) with strong teamwork. We will achieve good results in spring volleyball.” Road construction manager Kim Jong-min also said, “I will finish the PO in Gimcheon (gymnasium) (where the second game is held).” I was determined to win both the first and second rounds.
The two teams faced each other with a record of 3 wins and 3 losses in the regular season. In the first half (rounds 1-3), Hyundai E&C won 3 consecutive wins, and in the second half (rounds 4-6), Expressway Corporation won all.
The recent momentum is ahead of road construction. Hyundai E&C, which had a solo system with 15 consecutive wins at the opening, was shaken sharply after former foreign player Yasmin Bedardt left due to injury, and only 4 wins (8 losses) in the 5th and 6th rounds. On the other hand, it maintained its upward trend by winning all of the last 4 regular league games, including catching Heungkuk Life Insurance in first place in the home game on the 7th.
The two teams are building a league-top ‘twin tower’. For Hyundai E&C, Yang Hyo-jin, who was the middle blocker (center) with the number one block (1,451) in total, and Lee Da-hyun, the current national representative, guard the front of the net. Highway Corporation has Jeong Dae-young, the league’s oldest veteran at 42 years old, and Bae Yoo-na, who ranked second in the blocking category this season (0.771 per set).
The center is a position that sometimes becomes a spear and sometimes a shield. While blocking the opponent’s side attackers with the highest attack share, they try to attack with a high success rate, such as a quick attack or quick open, to support scoring. Hyundai E&C ranked first in the regular league team’s fast-breaking success rate (52.31%), and Expressway Corporation ranked first in team blocking (2.810 per set).
Bae Yoo-na said at the V-League Postseason Media Day on the 20th, “Yang Hyo-jin and Lee Da-hyun are so outstanding players, so both me and (Jeong)먹튀검증 Dae-young are preparing to block attacks from the two players. In particular, sealing Yang Hyo-jin is key.” In the end, this PO is expected to be taken by the team that dominates the front of the net.
The center’s offense is most important in breathing with the setter. The setter must make the best attack timing by sending the toss at the proper speed and height to increase the chance of scoring by breaking through the opponent’s blocker.
The main setter of Hyundai E&C is Kim Da-in. He is the player who ranked first in the set category (11.021 per set) this season. The main setter for the road construction was last season (2021-22) Rookie King Lee Yun-jeong. He is evaluated to have grown even more by playing this season full-time.
Both Kim Da-in and Lee Yoon-jung led the team to the top and were recognized for their skills. However, neither player has played in a single postseason game. One setter’s choice can change the entire flow of the series. He hadn’t experienced that pressure yet.
After Yasmin left, Dain Kim seemed confused in distributing flank and center attacks. Lee Yun-jung’s game management is rather typical. There are times when he insists on distributing the ball on the side in tight ice situations. Of course, the opponent already knows the advantage.
In the V-League PO, all teams that won the first leg advanced to the championship match. Attention is focusing on whether Kim Da-in and Lee Yoon-jung will be able to fully utilize the center team.