Wow, IBK Industrial Bank is lethargic without Yang Hyo-jin, beating Hyundai Engineering & Construction, which aims to win its second consecutive championship, and going to the final

Sep 27, 2025

IBK Industrial Bank of Korea Lee Joo-ah. Photo courtesy =KOVO

IBK Industrial Bank of Korea has advanced to the cup final in two years. Photo courtesy =KOVO

IBK Industrial Bank defeated last year's champion Hyundai Engineering & Construction to reach the final of the cup competition in two years.

IBK Industrial Bank beat Hyundai Engineering & Construction 3-0 (25-21, 25-15, 25-15) in the semi-final match of the '2025 Yeosu-NH Nonghyup Cup Professional Volleyball Championship' held at Jinnam Gymnasium in Yeosu on the 27th. IBK Industrial Bank of Korea will play the final match against the Korea Expressway Corporation on the 28th.

IBK Industrial Bank of Korea has advanced to the finals for the first time in two years since the runner-up in 2023. He is aiming for the club's fourth championship trophy after 2013, 2015 and 2016.

IBK Industrial Bank of Korea advanced to the finals as the No. 1 player in Group B (two wins) and emerged as a favorite along with GS Caltex, the No. 1 player in Group A (three wins). GS Caltex made an unusual turnaround in the semi-final against the second-ranked Korea Expressway Corporation in Group B with a set score of 1-3, but IBK Industrial Bank continued its group stage rise.

Hyundai Engineering & Construction, the winner of last year's Cup, advanced to the semifinals as the second place in Group A (2-1). There was a variable in which middle blocker Yang Hyo-jin left due to a sprained left knee during the group stage. Na Hyun-soo also had a bad shoulder, so Kim Hee-jin had to take responsibility for the attack a little more.

IBK Industrial Bank Lee Joo-ah and Yuk Seo-young were outstanding. Lee Joo-ah scored 17 points and Yuk Seo-young scored 16 points.

IBK Industrial Bank of Korea Yuk Seo-young is attacking. Photo courtesy =KOVO

Kim Ho-chul IBK's operational time, directed by Eun-hae. Photo courtesy =KOVO

IBK Industrial Bank was dragged to 2-9 at the beginning of the first set due to the shaking of the reception, but it began to follow step by step. Yuk Seo-young chased 8-10 as she launched an onslaught. After 16-19, Yuk Seo-young and Lee Ju-ah pushed Hyundai Engineering & Construction with attacks and blocks, turning it over 20-19. At 22-21, Lee Joo-ah and Choi Jung-min's consecutive attacks led to a 24-21 run, and Hyundai Engineering & Construction Lee Ye-rim's offensive mistakes ended the set.

The second set was a landslide victory for IBK Industrial Bank of Korea. 5-5 Lee Ju-ah took a 11-5 lead by scoring six points in a large number of sub-time. Lee Ju-ah actively targeted Hyundai Engineering & Construction's Seo Ji-hye and shook the reception, bringing the atmosphere to IBK Industrial Bank. IBK Industrial Bank coach Kim Ho-chul tried to stabilize the defense by putting Lee So-young in when he was chased by 16-13. Thanks to this, he quickly found stability, and Lee Ju-ah blocked Seo Ji-hye's attacks at 20-14 and 22-14, completely breaking Hyundai E&C's willingness to chase.

It was a complete victory until the third set. Yuk Seo-young and Lee Joo-ah flew. At 7-5, Lee Joo-ah burst a serve ace and even broke Hyundai E&C's last-minute willingness to chase. IBK Industrial Bank easily won the shutdown by winning by more than 10 points.

Hyundai Engineering & Construction showed a very lethargic attack as Yang Hyo-jin was also out at a time when foreign players were not allowed to participate due to the tournament regulations. Above all, there were 19 mistakes, twice as many as IBK Industrial Bank. Kim Hee-jin, who Hyundai Engineering & Construction coach Kang Sung-hyung expected, scored only six points.