*This content was translated by AI.
The South Korean 17-and-under (U17) Yeo Ja-bae-gu (CEO) team has advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Championship.
Led by coach Lee Seung-yeo, South Korea defeated the Philippines 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-14) in the Round of 16 match at the 2026 International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) World Championship held in Los Andes, Chile on the 13th (Korean time).
Ace and captain Son Seo-yeon (Seonmyeong Girls' High School), who played only one set and caught her breath in the final group stage match against Algeria the previous day, led the team to victory with a game-high 19 points, including three blocks and three service aces.
In addition, Eo Min-seo (Hanbom Girls' High School) contributed 14 points, while other players such as Jang Su-in (Gyeongnam Girls' High School) and Choi Min-ju (Gyeonghae Girls' Middle School, both with 7 points) also made their presence felt evenly.
South Korea will face Turkey, which previously defeated Japan 3-0, in the quarterfinals on the 15th at 9 a.m. to compete for a spot in the semifinals.
South Korea took control early, winning the first set 25-21 thanks to Eo Min-seo's six points and Son Seo-yeon's five points, including two blocks.
In the second set, South Korea fought fiercely against the Philippines' determined comeback but began pulling ahead with consecutive points in the middle of the set, seizing the momentum. With Son Seo-yeon directly securing the set point through her focused digging efforts, the team moved one step closer to victory. Son Seo-yeon alone accounted for eight points in the second set.
With their momentum building, South Korea seized control from the early stages of the third set with attacks that caught the opponent off guard. Although the Philippines launched a late counterattack when cornered, South Korea remained unshaken.
In fact, when leading 9-5, Son Seo-yeon secured the momentum by successfully landing two consecutive service aces. Responding to the opponent's determination to close the gap, South Korea countered with various attack routes, gradually widening the lead, and ultimately capped off their first tournament match with a decisive victory.
<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>
*This content was translated by AI.
