*This content was translated by AI.
"Clutch Park" Park Jung-ah (33, Pepper Savings Bank) left the tunnel of a long slump and gave the team a valuable victory.
Pepper Savings Bank beat Hyundai Engineering & Construction with a set score of 3-1 (23-25, 25-15, 25-16, 25-19) in the women's fourth round of the "Jin Air 2025-2026 V-League" held at Suwon Stadium on the 21st.
Pepper Savings Bank, which added three points, ranked sixth with 27 points (9 wins and 15 losses). Hyundai Engineering & Construction lost but remained in second place with 42 points (14 wins and 10 losses).
On this day, Pepper Savings Bank gave up the first set and won the remaining two to four sets, showing a particularly strong side to Hyundai Engineering & Construction. Joey took the center of the attack, Shimamura scored 16 points, Ha Hye-jin scored 8 points, and Park Jung-ah scored 7 points, making other players play evenly.
This season was particularly difficult for 'Veteran' Park Jung-ah. The score was low, and the team fell into a quagmire for nine consecutive losses amid injuries to key players. However, from the middle of the third round, Lee Won-jung stabilized by playing as the main setter and ended the losing streak with a victory over GS Caltex on the 30th of last month. And in the fourth round, he caught Jeong Kwan-jang and Hyundai Engineering & Construction, raising the atmosphere.
In a press conference after the game, Park Jung-ah said, "I told the players to 'cheer up' because it was the last game before the All-Star break, but I'm happy to win in the end. Isn't it good to win ahead of the long term?" he said.
With the victory, Pepper Savings Bank continued its advantage with Hyundai Engineering & Construction with 3 wins and 1 loss in the season. "When I meet the opponent, I think I'm more focused," Park Jung-ah said. "Since it's a team with high blocking, we all pledge to defend and cover hard, and as a result, my concentration is more vital."
Regarding the defense that was pointed out recently, he said, "Personally, I'm always trying. I try to get at least one more hit during practice, and I try to hit more attacks. I'm also trying to analyze the video and make various efforts," he said.
There was also a specific order from director Jang Ji-yeon. Park Jung-ah said, "While watching the video with the director, we talk a lot about selecting steps or ball positions," and added, "The director makes various orders such as 'Hit him because he can get caught' and 'Just put paint on him'."
Behind the joy of victory was deep agony. Park Jung-ah, who looked back at the third round, said, "The early flow was good as a team, but the losing streak was prolonged in the middle, and it was complicated because it didn't work out well personally, and I felt like I kept falling into a pit."
"I had to kick it back up again, but the game was too short to find a solution. I want to practice more and analyze more, but it was difficult because tomorrow is the match, he said, adding, "I have some time left now, so I think I need to think carefully and find a way to recover quickly."
It's not completely out of the "pub" yet. Park Jung-ah said, "I think we still need more time. We need to work harder so that we can quickly find a sense and show our skills," he said.
The winner of the day was "18 points." Park Jung-ah cited her concentration in the second half as a factor for the team's recent rise. "When I lost, I had more mistakes after 18 points and tended to collapse," he said. "We trained by chanting spells such as 'This is 18 points now' and 'This situation starts with 18 points." In the end, it's important whether you overcome 18 points or not," he stressed. Unlike the usual 20-point standard, 18 points were viewed as a match.
Regarding the upcoming All-Star break plan, Park Jung-ah said, "I'm going to rest for now and go to the All-Star Game," adding, "After that, I'm going to continue to practice in Gwangju." Attention is focusing on what kind of turnaround Park Jung-ah, who endured a harsh winter, will write for the rest of the season.
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*This content was translated by AI.
