Korean Air fell to OK Financial Group 2-3 (21-25, 25-20, 20-25, 25-22, 12-15) in a tightly contested full-set match in the sixth round of the Dodram 2023-2024 V League Men's Division at Sangroksu Gymnasium in Ansan on Tuesday.
The two teams battled back and forth throughout the day. OK Financial Group took the first set with a block to stop the opponent's junior setter while the score was tied in the first set.
The two teams traded sets after that, but couldn't decide the match until the fourth set. 스포츠토토 Korean Air dramatically pushed the match to a fifth set after Jeong Jeong-yong's late attack followed by Espejo's wedge hit at the end of the fourth set.
However, OK Financial Group had the last laugh. OK Financial Group, which had been accumulating points with its iron wall blocking, gradually widened the gap in the score and overtook Korean Air to win the final five sets. The set score was 3-2 in favor of OK Financial Group.
Leo, the key apo jit spiker of OK Financial Group, led the team to victory with 31 points, including seven service aces and nine back attacks.
With the loss, Korean Air remained in second place with a 22-13 record and 68 points on the season. They are still one point behind first-place Woori Card. Woori Card is ahead of Korean Air with a 23-11 record and 69 points.
Woori Card is within striking distance of a spot in the championship game. Woori Card has two games left before the end of the regular season, while Korean Air has one. Woori Card can clinch first place with three points in the remaining two games. Woori Card will face Hyundai Capital on the 12th and Samsung Fire on the 16th. A three-point victory against Hyundai Capital will confirm Woori Card's first place finish in the regular season on the 12th, while the outcome of the Korean Air game on the 14th will determine the first place finish on the 16th. Woori Card is definitely in a favorable situation.
After preventing Korean Air from taking the lead, OK Financial Group once again celebrated its first spring volleyball appearance in three years. They added two more points to their tally and increased their chances of a direct playoff berth. If fourth-ranked Hyundai Capital fails to pick up a point against Woori Card on Dec. 12, OK Financial Group will secure a direct playoff berth against the second-place team without a semifinal.
Meanwhile, in the women's match at Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul, Korea Expressway Corporation used a late comeback in the third set to defeat GS Caltex 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-23) in straight sets. Both teams have been eliminated from the postseason.