[Official Announcement] New Club SOOP, Another Trade Successfully Completed! Acquires Seo Ji-hye from Hyundai E&C and Ko Ui-jeong from IBK... Sacrifices Two 2nd-Round Draft Picks for a 19-Year-Old Libero

*This content was translated by AI.

V-League women's new club SOOP Supers has strengthened its roster through two separate trades.

The SOOP club officially announced on the 10th that it "has acquired Seo Ji-hye (21) from Hyundai E&C Hillstate and will transfer a 2nd-round draft pick in the 2027-2028 season rookie player draft."

Seo Ji-hye, a graduate of Jeonju Geunyeong Girls' High School, was selected as the second overall pick in the 2nd round of the 2023-2024 V-League rookie draft and joined Hyundai E&C. She is an outside hitter capable of being utilized from the front row in attacks and blocking, and she quickly adapted to the V-League stage despite her young age. Accumulating experience with 42 points in 18 games during the 2024-2025 season and 27 points in 16 games during the 2025-2026 season, SOOP Supers acquired Seo Ji-hye to bolster its outside hitter depth due to her growth potential.

A second trade was additionally completed. The SOOP club stated, "Through a trade with IBK Industrial Bank of Korea AlToss Volleyball Club, we have secured outside hitter Ko Ui-jeong and a 2nd-round draft pick in the 2026-2027 season rookie player draft. The condition for SOOP Supers is sending Jeong Sol-min to IBK Industrial Bank of Korea."

Ko Ui-jeong began her professional career after being selected as the fifth overall pick in the 2nd round of the 2018-2019 V-League rookie draft by KGC Ginseng Corporation (now Jung Kwan Jang). She has played more than 30 games for three consecutive seasons since the 2020-2021 season and has consistently performed in the V-League, recording 170 points during the 2020-2021 season. Known for her powerful serve and attacking ability, she is a player who can add strength to her team by disrupting opponents' receptions with her serves and executing side attacks.

With the addition of Ko Ui-jeong and Seo Ji-hye to previously acquired players Jeon Sae-yun (30) and Song Eun-chae (20), the club has enhanced its positional competitiveness and further solidified its roster construction for its inaugural season.

SOOP Supers head coach Kim Se-jin (52) said, "We expect this acquisition to expand our player rotation options and enhance team competitiveness," adding, "We will build a team where players can fully utilize their individual strengths."

Meanwhile, SOOP Supers welcomed foreign player Audrey Fitzmorris and Asia quota player Yi Xie on the 7th, who have joined the roster. With the recent acquisitions of Ko Ui-jeong and Seo Ji-hye, the club continues its preparations for its inaugural season.

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*This content was translated by AI.