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| Hwang Yeon-ju (center) of the Korea Expressway Corporation. He showed the potential of a veteran player. Photo courtesy =KOVO |
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| Korea Expressway Corporation Kang So-hwi. Photo courtesy =KOVO |
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The Korea Expressway Corporation defeated the cup champion GS Caltex and succeeded in advancing to the final in three years.
The Korea Expressway Corporation came from behind to win the set score 3-1 (19-25, 25-16, 26-24, 25-17) in the semifinal match against GS Caltex at Jinnam Gymnasium in Yeosu on the 27th. The Korea Expressway Corporation has a chance to win the championship for the first time in three years since 2022, and is aiming for the second time in the club's history in 14 years since 2011.
GS Caltex advanced to the semifinals by ranking first in Group A. It beat Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Heungkuk Life Insurance, and Pepper Savings Bank to win all three games. It was a strong team that boasts six cups in total.
The Korea Expressway Corporation reached the semifinals in Group B (1-1). GS Caltex dominated the flow and atmosphere of the tournament.
The Korea Expressway Corporation led the attack with Kang So-hwi scoring 16 points and Hwang Yeon-ju scoring 13 points. Kim Se-in also added 14 points.
The Korea Expressway Corporation was far ahead of GS Caltex 17-3 in blocking, with middle blockers Bae Yu-na and Kim Se-bin collaborating on 10.
The first set failed to stop GS Caltex's counterattack. The Korea Expressway Corporation led 6-3, but failed to prevent attacks by GS Caltex's Kwon Min-ji and Kim Mi-yeon, allowing a 6-6 chase. The Korea Expressway Corporation began to be dragged 11-14 as it was shaken by the serve of GS Caltex Ahn Hye-jin and Yoo Se-yeon. After allowing GS Caltex Kwon Min-ji to attack with a time difference at 19-22, road corporation Hwang Yeon-ju and Kang So-hwi self-destructed due to consecutive attack failures, giving up the set 19-25.
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| Kim Jong-min, director of the Korea Expressway Corporation. Photo courtesy =KOVO |
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| roaring Korea Expressway Corporation athletes. Photo courtesy =KOVO |
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The Korea Expressway Corporation began to take the lead in the second set. Leading 12-7, he began to be chased because he failed to prevent attacks by GS Caltex's Yoo Soo-yeon and Kwon Min-ji. As Kim Se-in's receiving faltered, GS Caltex actively attacked him as a sub and was chased to 13-12. The Korea Expressway Corporation also responded with a sub. Thanks to Hwang Yeon-ju breaking down GS Caltex Reevis and spreading the distance to 18-13, he was able to win the second set.
The third set was a watershed moment. At 12-12, Kang So-hwi started to lead 14-12 as he shook GS Caltex as a sub. The Korea Expressway Corporation seemed to easily pack the set as it ran to 22-18, but Kim Se-in's attack was blocked by Choi Yoo-rim and began to be chased. GS Caltex's Lee Ju-ah's serve ace broke down and narrowed it to 22-20, and Kim Se-in's attack error came out while he failed to prevent the attacks of Yoo Seo-yeon and Choi Yoo-rim, leading to a 24-24 deuce. Here came Yoo's decisive quick-open mistake, and Hwang Yeon-ju once again blocked Yoo Seong-yeon's attack to end the set 26-24, moving one step closer to advancing to the final.
The road corporation dragged the flow all the way to the fourth set. Kim Se-bin's quick attack and Hwang Yeon-ju's quick opening made it 4-2 at 2-2. While GS Caltex was scrambling due to Lee Ju-ah's attack mistakes, Hwang Yeon-ju and Bae Yu-na succeeded in consecutive blockings and ran to 7-2, completely breaking GS Caltex's will to chase. In 9-3, Hwang Yeon-ju showed the veteran's power by bursting the serve ace.
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| Lee Young-taek, director of GS Caltex. Photo courtesy =KOVO |
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| GS칼텍스 선수들. Photo courtesy =KOVO |
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
