[Official Announcement] KB Insurance to Change Starting Libero for Second Consecutive Year! '25-Year-Old, Military-Service-Completed FA' Jang Ji-won Suddenly Acquired

*This content was translated by AI.

Pro volleyball team KB Insurance Stars has embarked on the challenge of replacing its starting libero for the second consecutive year.

KB Insurance officially announced on the 17th that it has suddenly acquired free agent (FA) libero Jang Ji-won (25) to strengthen its defensive capabilities.

After graduating from Namwon Jungang Elementary, Namseong Middle, and Namseong High schools, Jang joined Woori Card as the 5th pick in the first round of the 2019–2020 V-League rookie draft, beginning his professional career. He later played for KEPCO and the Army Sports Promotion Team (Sangmu). After completing his military service, he returned to the V-League last season, appearing in 31 matches and 98 sets, recording a reception efficiency of 35.2% while anchoring KEPCO's defense.

KB Insurance stated that it judged Jang Ji-won to have a wide defensive range and excellent ability to quickly identify the ball's position and move accordingly. In particular, the team expects him to contribute to improving the overall defensive structure of the team due to his superior fundamentals, including transitions after defense.

The team added that "Jang Ji-won is a player with extensive practical experience and solid defensive fundamentals despite his young age. We have made a practical reinforcement to stabilize the defense," and expressed expectations that "he will blend well into the team and grow into an even better player."

Jang Ji-won conveyed his sincere feelings, stating, "I would like to express my gratitude to the KEPCO teammates, the club, and the fans who have cared for and supported me all this time." He further declared, "Since KB Insurance Volleyball Team trusted and acquired me, I will show you my best performance. I will also do my utmost to help the team win the championship."

Meanwhile, KB Insurance has also said goodbye to another libero. Ahead of last season, the team acquired Im Sung-jin (27) as an FA and removed existing libero Jung Min-soo (35) from the protected player list. Fortunately, Kim Do-hoon (28) emerged as a starter and became one of the top five players in the league, effectively filling the void. However, Kim Do-hoon soon became a Class C FA, and his market value rose, making the parting inevitable.

KB Insurance expressed its gratitude, saying, "We sincerely thank Kim Do-hoon for his dedication and best efforts for the team over the years," and added, "Although he is taking a new path, we will genuinely support him."

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*This content was translated by AI.