*This content was translated by AI.
Kim Da-in (Hyundai Engineering & Construction) is neither the national setter nor Lee Yoon-jung (Korea Expressway Corporation). The hottest setter this season is Kim Ji-won (25) of GS Caltex in Seoul.
Kim Ji-won started at Daejeon Jeonggwanjang and Jin Air's 2025-2026 V-League home game held at Jangchung Gymnasium in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 20th and led the team to a 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-14) shutdown victory.
Two serve aces also stood out, but most of all, Kim Ji-won's ability to manage the game drew attention. GS Caltex recorded a 39.45% attack success rate, actively utilizing not only Giselle Silva (registered name Silva, 47.22%) but also side strikers and middle blockers Oh Se-yeon (83.33%) and Choi Yoo-rim (50%) to help revive the even attack route.
Kim Ji-won, who joined GS Caltex as the No. 1 rookie in the 2020-2021 season after graduating from Jecheon Girls' High School, did not have many opportunities in the early stages of her debut due to one option, Ahn Hye-jin (28), but took advantage of Ahn Hye-jin's frequent injuries to become the main player.
This season, he improved his completeness even more. Although Silva is second in scoring (719 points) and moving attack (60%), overall attack (46.31%) and open attack (40.44%), quick open (51.67%) and rear attack (46.02%) all show tremendous power in attack, it is difficult to interpret it as purely the "Silva effect."
Last season, 12 out of 32 games accounted for more than 50% of the possession, but this season, only one out of 23 games exceeded 50%. It can be seen that more than 45% of the games are also 8 games, which is significantly reducing the dependence on Silva compared to 22 games last season.
This means that they are creating a variety of attack routes. Silva also scored 21 points, the most by both teams, but had only 33.03 percent of the attack. It is regrettable that Reyna Tokoku (registered name Reyna), who played 26.61% of attacks, was sluggish with a success rate of 24.14%, but she actively used two middle blockers to solve the game.
This is being shown as a clear achievement. Kim Ji-won is making an average of 11.066 sets per set. Kim Da-in (10.778) and Lee Yun-jeong (9.929) are ranked first. On this day, he made 33 out of 85 sets. There were 11 per set, similar to the season record.
Kim Ji-won, who met after the game, said, "I know Silva's share is high and I know I shouldn't do it alone. The other team is also trying to block Silva, he said. "I'm trying to solve the other side, but it's not easy. He explained, "I tried to keep using it because the reception was good and the speed was good."
However, head coach Lee Young-taek thinks there is still a lot more he can do. "I think you're good when you're good. "These days, I think it's more important to raise the striker to make it easier to hit in ball control, as well as the operation," he said. "I think there are some ups and downs in such control. Since it's the second half of the fourth round, there must be a physical problem. You're doing great. I think he's No. 1 in the setter."
I have full confidence in the management of the game. The operational aspect is left to Ji-won a lot. However, he said, "I want to save Reyna, I want to save her, I want to save her by giving the ball to the middle, and I think it would be easy to have one thing to believe in when it comes to running because there is Silva who can finish a shot in a crisis situation."
Silva is also a strong ally to Kim Ji-won. With Silva, you can think about more diverse attack routes. "When receiving is shaking, it is difficult to connect the second ball to points," Kim Ji-won said. "For sure, when you have to turn quickly, lose, or the game is boiling, there is a certain shot (Silva), so I think it's better to put it up then."
All teams facing GS Caltex prepare by focusing on Silva. That's why we pay more attention to allocation. Kim Ji-won said, "The most common concern is that when the match point or score is boiling, there are cases where anyone can see that it will go up to Silva, but if it doesn't work there, my mind is shaken," and added, "These days, I think about writing it in reverse."
Regarding the record of being No. 1 in the set, he said, "It's not because I'm good, but the striker makes it for me," adding, "I feel good, but I don't care."
For spring volleyball, we have to go higher. Kim Ji-won said, "I feel more pressure now than in the beginning," adding, "We talk a lot about doing our best without the pressure we put in." If that happens, I think it will go as well as today," he said, expressing optimism.
Recently, Cha Sang-hyun, who led GS Caltex for a long time, was appointed as the national team's head coach. He was cautious about selecting the national team, but according to his current performance, Kim Ji-won will soon be seen playing with the national flag.
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*This content was translated by AI.
