Samsung Fire, Kim Joon-woo return to spring volleyball
KB Insurance snapped a nine-game losing streak with a win over Samsung Fire in the men’s professional volleyball league. Despite playing freshly recovered Kim Jun-woo, Samsung Fire’s chances of reaching the postseason slipped further with the loss.
KB Insurance won the Dodram 2023-2024 V-League men’s match against Samsung Fire 3-2 (19-25 25-16 25-20 25-27 15-11) in three sets at the Daejeon Chungmu Gymnasium on Monday.
KB Insurance snapped a nine-game losing streak with the win. Despite improving to 5 wins, 27 losses and 21 points, KB Insurance remained in seventh place, the bottom of the league.
Samsung Fire, who lost their previous game, lost their second straight. With 17 wins, 15 losses, and 45 points, the fifth-place Samsung Chemicals failed to catch up to fourth-place KEPCO (47 points).
KB Insurance’s Bi Yena led the way with 37 points, including 10 back-attacks and four service aces. Hwang Kyung-min added 19 points.
Samsung Fire Yosubani had 29 points, including eight back-attacks and three blocks, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the loss. Kim Jung-ho added 11 points.
The home team Samsung Fire took the lead in the first set. Jupo Yosubani scored 10 points with a back-attack, block, and service ace. Middle blocker Kim Joon-woo, who injured his ankle in a match last month and was diagnosed with an eight-week total ankle replacement, returned earlier than expected to protect the center. On the other hand, KB Insurance’s outside hitter Bjena Jupo had just five points as her attack percentage dropped to 25 percent. Samsung Fire won the first set comfortably.
In the second set, KB Insurance took the lead after Bijena’s back-to-back service points. Hwang Kyung-min also contributed to the score. Even setter Hwang Seung-bin contributed with a 메이저사이트 service ace and a block. KB Insurance took the second set as Yosubani and Kim Jung-ho’s attacks were blocked.
KB Insurance took the lead early in the third set as Samsung Fire’s reception was shaky and setter Noh Jae-wook repeatedly made errors. Bijena scored eight points, while Hwang Kyung-min, Woo Sang-jo, and Choi Yo-han also contributed. Samsung Fire, on the other hand, struggled with Yosubani’s offense. KB Insurance held off Samsung Fire to win the set.
In the fourth set, Samsung Fire took a comfortable lead thanks to Yosubani and Eddie, but KB Insurance, led by Liu Hong-min, allowed them to catch up. Yosubani’s back-attack set up set point, but KB Insurance scored three consecutive points for a deuce. At 25-25, Yosvani’s open attack was successful, but Bijena’s back-attack went out of bounds to level the match.
In the fifth set, Biyena did most of the team’s offense, scoring eight points. Yosvani tried to fight back, but it was clear she was running out of steam. Yosubani’s spike serve hit the net and KB Insurance escaped from the losing streak.