Women's professional volleyball team Heungkuk Life regained the top spot after losing it to Hyundai E&C in two days. Ace Kim Yeon-kyung played a key role in leading the team to the top spot.

Heungkuk Life won its home match against IBK IBK in the third round of the Dodram 2023-2024 V-League Women's Division with a set score of 3-2 (26-24 22-25 25-18 22-25 18-16) at Samsan World Gymnasium in Incheon on Thursday.

With the win, Heungkuk Life improved to 13-2 on the season and 35 points, tied with Hyundai E&C (11-4, 35 points), but moved from second to first with the advantage in wins and set margin. The team washed away the pain of losing to GS Caltex with a set score of 1-3 (20-25 25-16 25-27 19-25) on Sept. 9.

Heungkuk Life also continued its winning streak against IBK this season. They can now prepare for their upcoming matches against Korea Expressway Corporation on Nov. 17 and Hyundai E&C on Nov. 20 with a lighter heart.

Heungkuk Life has been led by Kim Yeon-kyung. Kim was responsible for 36 points, the most on the team, and she showed off her "volleyball queen" side with several decisive attacks in the first, third, and fifth sets.

Heungkuk Life's Yelena struggled with her form, finishing with 16 points and a 22.81% attack percentage. Instead, Lee Ju-ah's 10 points and Reina's 11 points helped the team to victory.

IBK, on the other hand, saw their winning streak come to a halt at three. The team fought evenly with Heungkuk Life until the second set, but then realized that they were missing middle blocker Lim Hye-rim, who went down with an injury.

Despite the loss, IBK shined with the performance of outside hitter Jupo Abecrombie. Abecrombie scored 36 points in a spirited effort, but had to settle for the loss. Pyo Seung-ju added 14 points, Choi Jung-min nine points, and Hwang Min-kyung 13 points.

Starting lineups

IBK had been blowing the whistle on three straight wins recently. After defeating Jeonggwanjangjeon in a full-set thriller in the first match of the third round on the 2nd, they swept GS Caltex on the 6th with a set score of 3-1 and Korea Expressway Corporation on the 10th with a set score of 3-0.

The team jumped from the bottom of the standings to No. 5. With 8 wins and 7 losses in the season, he has more wins than losses and has accumulated 22 points. They are closely followed by fourth-ranked Jungkwanjang (7-8, 23 points) and third-ranked GS Caltex (9-6, 25 points)."I think the fact that we are undefeated in the third round will motivate the players," said IBK head coach Kim Ho-cheol. "I feel that the team has improved a lot when I see that the players have the confidence to beat (any team)."

However, an unexpected injury blow struck IBK. Middle blocker Lim Hye-rim injured her ankle while landing after a jump against Korea Expressway Corporation and is out for the time being.

There aren't many alternatives. Kim Hee-jin, who underwent surgery in the offseason, is still not 100 percent. Choi Jeong-min and Kim Hyun-jung will have to operate the middle blocker position for the time being.

Coach Kim Ho-cheol said, "We don't have enough middle blockers. "Lim Hye-rim is injured, so we are very worried about this part," he said. "Luckily, she didn't suffer any ligament tears or ruptures. However, she will need time to recover."

"It's unfortunate that she got injured at this point in the season," he added, "Kim Hee-jin is still not at 100 percent, and she's an essential player. We don't have anyone to fill the gap, so I'm worried."

Heungkuk Life: Outside hitter Kim Yeon-kyung-Middle blocker Lee Ju-ah-Apposit spiker Kim Mi-yeon-Outside hitter Yelena-Middle blocker Kim Soo-ji-Setter Park Hye-jin-Libero Do Su-bin

Heungkuk Life ended its nine-game winning streak at home to GS Caltex with a set score of 1-3 (20-25 25-16 25-27 19-25). Hyundai E&C, which had been chasing at a frightening pace, lost its lead in the standings when it defeated Pepper Savings Bank in a shutout on Nov. 12.

To make matters worse, the team was without star setter Lee Won-jeong, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) before the match against IBK.

Heungkuk Life head coach Marcello Abondanza said, "The nine-game winning streak was cut short, but there was no agitation within the squad. "The postseason and the second half of the season are more important than now," he said, adding, "We prepared hard with the players to show better volleyball.