Heungkuk Life Insurance, which suffered its first ever reverse sweep in the V-League women’s championship game last season, sharpened its sword to win the championship.
Heungkuk Life Insurance has become even stronger by retaining Kim Yeon-kyung and recruiting Kim Su-ji, and is considered the No. 1 candidate for the championship. 스포츠토토
However, you cannot know this until you open the lid, and unexpected variables may occur. Korea Expressway Corporation, which achieved a dramatic come-from-behind victory last season, and Pepper Savings Bank, which has a major player named Park Jeong-ah, should also be paid attention to.
The Dodram 2023-24 V-League Women’s Division will begin its six-month journey starting with the opening match between Korea Expressway Corporation and Heungkuk Life Insurance held at the Gimcheon Indoor Stadium at 4 p.m. on the 14th.
The candidate for the championship this season is Heungkuk Life Insurance, which has the ‘Volleyball Empress’ Kim Yeon-kyung. Heungkuk Life Insurance ranked first in the regular league last season and appeared to be on the verge of winning the championship by winning the first and second games, but then bowed its head by dropping the third, fourth, and fifth games.
Heungkuk Life Insurance overcame the shock and prepared for this season with substantial reinforcement.
First, Kim Yeon-kyung, who had obtained FA status, was retained. Kim Yeon-kyung’s presence alone makes them a candidate for the championship, and IBK Industrial Bank also added middle blocker Su-ji Kim.
The synergy of Kim Yeon-kyung and Kim Su-ji playing on the same team is worthy of considering Heungkuk Life Insurance as one of the best. Thanks to being with her long-time best friend Kim Yeon-kyung, Kim Su-ji has already adapted, saying, “I feel at ease and we get along well.”
In addition, Jelena Mrazenovic, who is already familiar with Korean volleyball and Heungkuk Life Insurance, is in good health, forming a strong triangular formation, and the composition of players is so solid that there are no shortages in various positions, including setter Lee Won-jung, libero Kim Hae-ran, and Asian quarter Reina Dokoku.
So, when asked to choose the two teams that will meet in the new season’s championship, Heungkuk Life Insurance received the most votes, 5, from coaches of other teams. IBK coach Kim Ho-cheol gave high praise, saying, “Each position was well-organized with no gaps.”
In response, Heungkuk Life Insurance coach Marcello Abondanza did not hide his ambition to win the championship, saying, “Looking at the composition of the players, I have confidence in winning the championship.”
In order for Heungkuk Life Insurance to achieve the long-awaited championship, it must overcome fierce competition from the other six teams.
First of all, it is necessary to pay attention to Korea Expressway Corporation, which holds the title of defending champion. Kim Jong-min, the road construction manager, responded humbly, saying, “Now we have lost a lot of strength,” but the power that led to a comeback victory that no one expected last season still remains.
The road construction company’s star Park Jeong-ah left for Pepper Savings Bank and Chung Dae-young left for GS Caltex, but Bae Yu-na is still alive and has been reinforced by Park Eun-ji and Ko Ui-jeong (head of the company).
In addition, middle blocker Kim Se-bin, the ‘biggest rookie’, was recruited as the first pick in the rookie draft. Although Kim Se-bin is a rookie, he is evaluated as having excellent immediate power.
Three of the six team managers who watched this still evaluated Road Corporation as a team that would compete in the championship.
Pepper Savings Bank, which has been labeled as the ‘bottom ranked team of all time,’ is also determined to be different this year.
Pepper Savings Bank significantly raised the value of its squad by embracing national team captain Park Jeong-ah.
Pepper Savings Bank is hoping that ‘Clutch Park’ Park Jeong-ah and ‘Healthy’ Yasmin Bedart will resolve the disappointment of not being able to exert effort in every game. When combined with the commanding power of American coach Joe Tringe, it could turn out to be an unexpected surprise.
If Pepper Savings Bank, which was at the bottom, rises to the middle or above, the entire V-League women’s landscape could be completely changed.
In addition, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, which has always been considered a contender for the championship over the past three years but suffered from bad news such as the variable of the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) and injuries, is also a team capable of challenging for hegemony in the new season.
IBK Industrial Bank of Korea, which is considered to have selected the biggest catch among the newly introduced Asia quotas this season, is also raising expectations.
Attention is focused on how Ponpun Garfard (Thailand), who will be used as a setter, will perform under the guidance of coach Kim Ho-cheol, a former famous setter.
If the troublesome setter problem is resolved, Kim Hee-jin and Britney Abercrombie (Puerto Rico) could also become active.
Also, dark horses include Cheong Kwan-Jang, who is starting again with a new name after missing the spring volleyball last season, and GS Caltex, which strengthened its weaknesses by bringing in Dae-Young Jeong.