GS Caltex clinches three points with a win over leader Heungkuk Life.
GS Caltex earned a 3-1 (25-20, 16-25, 27-25, 25-19) set win over Heungkuk Life in the third round of the Dodram 2023-2024 V-League at Samsan World Gymnasium in Incheon on Monday.
With the win, GS Caltex snapped its losing streak and remained in third place with 9 wins, 6 losses and 25 points. On the other hand, 온라인카지노 Heungkuk Life, which had its nine-game winning streak halted, extended its lead to 12 W-2 L-33 points, but faced a stiff challenge from second-place Hyundai E&C.
The three meetings between the two teams this season were significant in that GS Caltex won the first two, despite being outscored 1-0, reversing two previous shutout losses.
Heungkuk Life has been shaky at times during their nine-game winning streak, often relying on Kim Yeon-kyung’s isolations, but today, their overall focus and movement was off, and they were also hampered by a sore thigh from star setter Lee Won-jung.
GS Caltex was unable to extend its first-set advantage into the second set, but it was the final push in the third set that proved to be the difference between victory and defeat.
When GS Caltex took the lead at 18-13 midway through the set, it looked like they were going to take the set easily, but there was a twist in store.
Heungkuk Life put pressure on its opponent with kills from Lee Ju-ah and Yelena, followed by another from Kim Yeon-kyung, to take a 17-20 lead, and a service ace from Kim Soo-ji brought the score to 21-22. Yelena made it 23-22 with two hard-hitting kills.
GS Caltex rallied again. Silva’s hard hit tied the score at 23-23, and in deuce, Silva’s timed attack gave them a one-point lead.
The set was tied at 25-25. GS managed to hold on for the set thanks to Kang So-hwi’s hard hitting and Silva’s back-attack.
The fourth set was practically a one-sided affair after the mid-set. The victory went to GS Caltex.
GS was led by Silva with 27 points and Kang So-hwi with 19, while Yoo Seo-yeon added 10, Han Su-ji with 8, and Jung Dae-young with 6. It was especially noteworthy that Han Su-ji and Jung Dae-young started and played in the middle.
As Silva’s offense faltered, the unconventional play in the middle worked. In particular, Kim Ji-won’s setter shook up the opposition with a toss that drew in the attackers in addition to the fastball, which was enough to earn applause.
On the other hand, Heungkuk Life had 27 points from Yelena and 18 points from Kim Yeon-kyung, but the rest of the team could not join the scoring ranks.
GS Caltex will look to continue their winning streak against Pepper Savings Bank on the 15th. Heungkuk Life will host IBK on the 14th.