"Game-changer is now the baseline." Our Card's Jung Sung-kyu, who survived on his serve alone, no longer avoids receiving. "I'll aim for a starting spot too." [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

Jung Sung-kyu (28, Our Card Our WON), a Rookie of the Year who survived on his serve alone, now dreams of becoming a starter responsible for an entire match.

Recently, at the Our Card Clubhouse near Songnim Gymnasium in Incheon Metropolitan City, Jung Sung-kyu met with StarNews and said, "When I entered the court, I noticed opponents calling timeouts or changing their serve-receive line. In the past, that would have bothered me, but now I think, 'They're calling a timeout because my serve is good,' which makes me secretly proud," he smiled.

It was well-deserved. Jung Sung-kyu established his presence as a one-point server who changed the flow of games in Our Card during the latter half of matches. A representative game was the Round 6 showdown against KEPCO. Our Card had seemingly secured four sets but lost them 23-25, losing momentum. In the fifth set at 10-7, Jung Sung-kyu entered the court and capitalized on all four of his serve opportunities, contributing to a thrilling victory.

Recalling that moment, Jung Sung-kyu said, "The momentum had already shifted, so honestly I wondered if we could even win the fifth set. But I thought, 'If we lose here, it's over.'" He added, "Rather than hitting weakly and getting countered with regret, I decided to hit hard. My body felt great that day, and my serve feel was also good."

The serve has always been Jung Sung-kyu's most reliable weapon since childhood. He explained, "I started trying spike serves in elementary school. From elementary through high school and university, serving remained my strength."

Recently, he has gone beyond simply hitting hard to research 'a powerful yet error-free serve.' Jung Sung-kyu said, "Rather than hitting weakly to avoid errors, I practiced finding ways to hit hard while minimizing mistakes. To score consecutive points, you must be strong and have no errors. I am still researching this."

Looking only at his resume, the role of a one-point server is somewhat unexpected. Jung Sung-kyu, who graduated from Hongik University, was selected fourth overall in the first round of the 2019~2020 V-League Rookie Draft by Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance. He won the Rookie of the Award in his debut season. Through a trade in the 2021~2022 season, he first joined Our Card.

However, even at Our Card, his playing time was limited. Instead, he created his value as a 'game-changer' who is deployed at moments when the team needs it most, leveraging his clear advantage of a powerful serve.

Especially last season was his first season after completing mandatory military service in the Army Sports Promotion Team (Sangmu). He joined around the start of the season, and both the coaching staff and system had changed significantly during his year-and-a-half absence.

Jung Sung-kyu reflected, "At first, I felt a strong desire to show something definite to Coach Mauricio Paez, who didn't know me well. During the season, whenever I had time, I practiced serving extensively."

After Coach Park Cheol-woo took over the team, his opportunities gradually increased. Jung Sung-kyu said, "Coach Park actively used me. As I thought, 'He trusts and uses me,' my confidence grew, and I developed a desire to do even more."

Now, 'game-changer' is not a goal but a starting point for Jung Sung-kyu. He said, "It's fine to be called a game-changer or a player who changes the mood. But now I think such a role should be the basic foundation." He added firmly, "My goal is to enter as an outside hitter and play the role of an attacker. I am preparing hard with the aim of becoming a starter."

To achieve this, there is clearly a wall he must overcome: receiving. Coach Park Cheol-woo instructed Jung Sung-kyu, "Don't avoid it. Take the ball coming to you and hit it."

Jung Sung-kyu did not ignore his weakness either. He explained, "Since I knew receiving was my weak point, I think I felt a slight urge to avoid it. But now, I try not to avoid any ball coming in front of me at all, thinking I will take it myself. As I keep receiving directly, my confidence is gradually growing."

Compared to last season, Our Card maintained its overall roster, but outside hitter Ali Hagparast (24) departed. For Jung Sung-kyu, this is both a crisis and an opportunity.

He said, "Ali was such a good player that how we fill his spot is important. The remaining players must unite tightly and fill each other's gaps." He added confidently, "I also see this as an opportunity to secure playing time. I want to seize this chance and give it my best shot."

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*This content was translated by AI.