In the fierce battle for the top spot in the Dodram 2023-2024 V-League, Hyundai E&C and Woori Card are likely to be the eventual winners.
Hyundai E&C swept IBK IBK in straight sets, 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-20), in the women’s home match at Suwon Gymnasium on Sept. 9.
Hyundai E&C, which was coming off back-to-back 2-3 losses to Jung Kwan-jang and Korea Expressway Corporation, 토토 snapped its losing streak and earned three valuable points.
With second-place Heungkuk Sinsaeng falling to bottom-ranked Pepper Savings Bank the day before, Hyundai E&C reduced its magic number to clinch the top spot in the regular season, and it further reduced the magic number by defeating IBK IBK.
With 77 points (25 W, 9 L), first-place Hyundai E&C widened its gap to four points over second-place Heungkuk Life (73-26 W, 8 L).
Hyundai E&C and Heungkuk Life have two games left, one of which is the final regular-season matchup in Suwon on Dec. 12. Hyundai E&C will clinch first place in the regular season with a win against Heungkuk Life on Wednesday.
Even if Hyundai E&C loses to Heungkuk Life on the 12th, they are in a very favorable position as they can still clinch first place in the regular season with three points against the bottom-placed Pepper Savings Bank on the 16th.
Hyundai E&C was led by Moma (20 points) with a strong attack from the side, while Yang Hyo-jin (15 points) and Lee Da-hyun (12 points) outplayed IBK in the height battle.
HCE trailed 9-12 in the first set, but a fast break by Yang Hyo-jin and a quick open shot from Abe Crombie that went off the line gave them the lead.
In the ensuing rally, IBK IBK’s Pyo Seung-joo missed a quick open to tie the set at 12-12, and Yang Hyo-jin blocked Abecrombie’s open attack to take the lead.
Hyundai E&C went ahead 15-12 when Yang Hyo-jin and Moma scored on consecutive open attacks. At 18-16, one-point server Ko Goo-ji shook up IBK’s receiving line, and Hyundai E&C went on to win the set 21-16.
IBK fought hard against Hyundai E&C in the second set, tying the score at 20-20. However, an attack error by Yook Seo-young and other attacks failed to penetrate the Hyundai E&C defense, allowing Moma and Jeong Jung-yoon to counterattack and push the score to 20-23.
At 24-21, Hyundai E&C ended the second set with a staggered attack from Moma to the center.
At 17-16 in the third set, HMC got over the final hurdle when Jeong Ji-yoon blocked Choi Jung-min’s time-differential attack and Go Kom-ji served an ace.
Yang Hyo-jin added three more blocking points on the day, becoming the first player in the V-League to surpass 1,550 blocking points (1,552).
Woori Card won their home match against KB Insurance 3-1 (25-27, 25-20, 25-15, 25-22) at Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul, South Korea.
With 69 points (23 W-11 L), Woori Card took over the lead from Korean Air (67-22 W-12 L).
With five points from their remaining two games, Woori Card will clinch first place in the regular season regardless of Korean Air’s results.
After dropping the first set to a fierce fightback from KB Insurance, who were confirmed to finish last, Woori Card substituted Kim Ji-han for Issei in the second set in an attempt to change the momentum.
True to head coach Shin Young-cheol’s wishes, Kim Ji-han (12 points) had a 100% attack percentage in the second set, scoring five points, and continued to play in a triangle formation with Artem Susheko (17 points) and Song Myung-geun (18 points) on the flanks.
Middle blocker Lee Sang-hyun (12 points) was also a standout with six blocked shots.
KB Insurance has lost all six meetings with Woori Card this season.