*This content was translated by AI.
The 170cm elementary school student who used to kick soccer balls has now become an ace of the volleyball team, winning MVP at a national tournament. Oh Se-in (18), an outside hitter for Jungang Girls' High School, dreams of being an attacker who can take responsibility even for poorly set balls.
Oh Se-in recently met with StarNews at Jungang Girls' High School in Seoul and recalled, "I started playing volleyball in the fifth grade of elementary school. Before that, I was playing soccer. My father used to be a soccer player, and my elementary school coach and an acquaintance were friends, so somehow I ended up playing volleyball."
At that time, he was already 170cm tall. Oh Se-in, who accidentally picked up a volleyball back then, has now grown into an 181cm outside hitter. Another advantage is his ability to also play as an opposite hitter when needed. His talent was recognized early on. Last year, despite his young age, Oh Se-in was selected for the U-21 women's Bae Gu (CEO) team and contributed to the team reaching the Round of 16 at the 2025 FIVB U-21 World Championship. In that tournament, Korea finished in 13th place overall.
This year, he has grown further as a savior for Jungang Girls' High School. At the 2026 IBK Industrial Bank of Korea National Middle and High School Volleyball Tournament, which concluded on the 6th at the Jecheon Indoor Gymnasium in Chungcheongbuk-do, he led his team to their first national championship title of the season and was named Most Valuable Player (MVP).
The path was not smooth. Jungang Girls' High School had previously been blocked by Seonmyung Girls' High School twice, finishing as runners-up in both the March Spring League Championship and the May Category Championships finals. Even in this third final showdown, Oh Se-in struggled against the opponent's high blocking from the first set.
Oh Se-in reflected, "When we played against Seonmyung Girls' High School before, their blocking was so high that I got blocked a lot. In the final, thinking about that made me make more mistakes."
A single word from Jungang Girls' High School coach Jang Yun-hee (56) helped clear his mind. Oh Se-in said, "Before the second set started, the coach told me, 'Just hit confidently even if you get blocked.' When I tried to do that, things seemed to go well, and I wasn't blocked as much."
His scoring power, which had already reached 15 points against Ilshin Girls' High School in the semifinals, exploded from then on. Oh Se-in led the attacks in sets 2 through 4, defeating Seonmyung Girls' High School with a set score of 3-1 and overcoming the pain of two previous runner-up finishes.
Oh Se-in pointed out improved team reception as the key difference starting from the second set. He explained, "In the previous two matches, our reception was shaky, so I mainly attacked on off-target sets, which made it easier to get blocked. This time, since our reception was good, I could execute various plays."
Coach Jang identifies Oh Se-in's greatest weapon as 'impact.' Coach Jang stated, "(Oh) Se-in is a diligent player no matter the situation. And his biggest advantage is the impact when hitting the ball. He has height and consistently scores in attacks," he evaluated.
His presence on the court is also extraordinary. Whether during the tournament final or today's training session, he always encouraged his friends and juniors with a bright smile. He was one of the players who energetically responded to Coach Jang's meticulous guidance. Coach Jang praised, "(Oh) Se-in has a loud voice and full of fighting spirit. There aren't many players like that these days. Other coaches also highly appreciate this aspect."
His utilization rate within the court is also high. Coach Jang emphasized, "(Oh) Se-in doesn't get lost on the court even when switching positions from various angles. Whether as an outside hitter or opposite, he faithfully fulfills his role in that position. That's why I consider him the center of the team."
The player himself knows well what kind of attacker he is. His weapons are powerful hitting and impactful attacks using wrist movement. Rather than waiting for a perfect set, he dreams of being an attacker who can solve even difficult balls. Oh Se-in said firmly, "I want to be a player who can hit even when teammates don't set the ball well. Even if the ball doesn't come up properly, I try my best to hit it."
There is also a clear path ahead. Compared to his strong attacks, he still needs to grow in defense areas such as serve reception and digging. In attack, he must learn various courses by shaking opponents' blocking and defense, as there are cases where he hits too straightforwardly.
Coach Jang gives detailed instructions on this point during training sessions. Oh Se-in shared, "If I hit straight into the middle, the defenders will be right in front and it's easy to receive. The coach often tells me to turn my body and hit diagonally or spin all the way to change the course."
Reception is also the area he most wants to improve himself. Oh Se-in honestly said, "I lack a bit of confidence too. Because I keep thinking I can't do it, it seems like I'm not doing well. Even when I ask my seniors, they all say the same thing: 'You need to receive more.'"
That is why Oh Se-in admires Yoshino Sato (25, Vero Volley Milano) of the Japanese national team, a next-generation ace. Although Sato is only 178cm tall, which is not particularly large for an outside hitter, she has grown into a key player for the Japanese national team with her excellent jumping ability, powerful serves, and impactful attacks that compensate for her smaller frame.
Oh Se-in said with sparkling eyes, "Player Sato doesn't just double-hit off-target sets; she hits them hard to score many points. Yet she is not weak in defense or reception; she's actually good at it. I want to emulate that strong playing style."
She represents the path Oh Se-in should follow. If Oh Se-in can maintain his natural power and impact like Sato while improving his reception and defensive skills, and if he can freely choose between soft and hard hits as well as various courses even on difficult balls, his utilization as an attacker could increase even further.
His passion for volleyball is already extraordinary. Even on rest days, he does personal training, and through Volleyball World, he watches not only the Japanese women's volleyball but also fast and powerful men's volleyball. When asked if thinking about volleyball all day isn't tiring, Oh Se-in showed a slightly embarrassed smile and said, "But watching is fun too. I think I just watch a lot because it's enjoyable."
Off the court, he is a senior who initiates playful interactions to make juniors feel comfortable. Perhaps that's why when asked what kind of player he wants to become in the future, the answer was not "a high-scoring player." Oh Se-in simply smiled brightly and said, "I want to be a player who brightens the team atmosphere and plays together with everyone."
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*This content was translated by AI.
