The first round of the 2023-2024 V-League Women's Playoff (two wins out of three) between Heungkuk Life Insurance and Jeong Kwan-jang was held at Samsan World Gymnasium in Incheon on Tuesday. Heungkuk Life led 2-1 in the fourth set, and Raina's open attack was perfectly bound by Park Eun-jin's effective blocking. With Heungkuk Life leading 23-22. Jia put it on the setter Yeom Hye-sun and ran to the left to attack. Yeom chose Mega, who was at the back right. However, the back attack that was subtracted by Mega's straight course did not fit the blocking and went out of the sideline. It was the moment when Heungkuk Life reached the match point 24-22.
Since then, Jeong Kwan-jang chased Jia to 24-23 with her quick opening, but Raina beat her quick opening and gave up four sets 25-23 to give up the first game 1-3 (25-22 13-25 23-25 23-25).
Recalling his defeat, there were many regrettable moments. The direct defeat was a complete defeat by reversing the third set, which was ahead 22-16.
Nevertheless, it is regrettable that she chose the offensive course at the last minute of the fourth set. Mega failed to make back attack for two consecutive times before the score was tied at 23-22. At 21-20, Yeom chose Mega's back attack twice in a row. As both Mega and Jia were at the back, middle blockers Park Eun-jin and Park Hye-min were the only strikers who could afford to attack from the potential. Park, who replaced Lee So-young who had left her ankle due to torn ligaments in her left ankle, played as an outside heater, and only had 18.18 percent (2/11) of the attack success rate, which was not helpful for her attack from the potential level. Yeom's choice of Mega could have been inevitable.
When the back attack hit twice in a row came out of nowhere, director Ko Hee-jin knew that she left without touching the blocker but called for a video review. She wanted to invite Mega to talk with him.
After Mega's two consecutive back attacks made it 23-20, Yeom Hye-sun chose Mega's back attack again in the rally. It was a scene that showed that Park Hye-min's attack options could not be used in such an urgent situation. Mega succeeded in the third back attack to make it 23-21, and finally Park Hye-min went down and Jia came up to the potential.
As soon as Jia came up to the front, she shut out Willow's quick open, making it 23-22. In the ensuing rally, Raina's open attack was stably rolled up by effective blocking. The situation was different this time. Jia, not Park Hye-min, was at the front. Considering the attacking conditions of Jia and Mega on the day, Jia of the front line could have been a better choice than Mega of the rear line. On the day, Jia scored 31 points with an attack success rate of 46.88 percent, and Mega scored 20 points, but the attack success rate was only 30.91 percent. Back Attack was extremely efficient, hitting 17 to make only five. Of course, since there was Willow who was 191 centimeters tall in front of Jia and Raina who was 177 centimeters tall in front of Mega, the decision could have been made based on the height difference of the opponent's blocker, but Mega was in a situation where his attacking conditions were so shaky that he hit two consecutively in front of Raina.
Anyway, Yeom Hye-sun's choice was Mega's back attack again, and Mega gave up a match point by hitting the out again, and eventually failed to lead the match to the fifth set.
As can be seen from the situation at the end of the fourth set, the gap between Lee So-young and Jeonggwanjang was larger than expected. When both Mega and Jia were in the rear position in the rotation, Yeom Hye-sun could not confidently put the ball on Park Hye-min. He was often placed in a situation where he had to choose Mega's light back attack or Jia's pipe (center back attack). The reason why he was able to play the other three sets in a close race except for the second set was because Jia's pipe had a high success rate of 58.82% (10/17).
Park Hye-min, who did not contribute much in the offense, did not play his part in defense either. He received only seven receptions and correctly connected to the setter. In addition, he allowed three serve aces at all. The receiving efficiency was only 15.38 percent. Lee's absence was clearly revealed throughout the offense and defense.
Having lost in the away match in Incheon, Jeong Kwan-jang must now have a 0% chance. In the women's playoff, which was held 17 times before the latest one, all the teams that won the first round succeeded in advancing to the championship match. Can Jeong Kwan-jang overcome 0% chance and play volleyball for the first time in seven years? Park Hye-min holds the key to the victory. If Park cannot contribute in offense, which Yeom Hye-sun can trust and raise in the potential, Mega can hit the ball in a more comfortable situation. 안전놀이터