"Now he even knows how to play volleyball," his mother, a former national team player, admitted! Scoring double digits against Brazil, fourth-year outside hitter Yoon Seo-jin is also competing for a starting spot with KB Insurance.

*This content was translated by AI.

"I've heard many people say my skills have improved since I returned from the national team."

Yoon Seo-jin (21), a fourth-year outside hitter for KB Insurance in men's professional volleyball, is once again entering the competition for a starting position, using his first experience with the senior national team and overseas training camps as stepping stones.

On the 12th, at the KB Insurance overseas training camp in Sakai, Japan, Yoon met with reporters and said, "I feel satisfied because the training is going well. This season, I want to play in more games, show good performances, and make my name firmly recognized by many people."

After graduating from Suseong High School, Yoon was selected as the fifth overall pick in the 2023-2024 V-League rookie draft and joined KB Insurance. His potential was recognized early on, but the barrier to professional play was high. In his debut season, he scored 14 points in 17 sets across 11 games. In the 2024-2025 season, he gradually established his presence with 55 points in 26 sets over 11 games. However, last season, he managed only 20 points in 11 sets across 6 games.

In particular, the outside hitter position at KB Insurance is the most competitive within the team. The situation has changed again for the new season. Instead of Im Sung-jin, who joined as a free agent, Hwang Kyung-min returned after completing his military service.

Na Gyeong-bok, who struggled with injuries last season, is also preparing to bounce back with renewed determination. Additionally, there is Asia quota player Tarusha Chames (registered name: Tarusha) and Hong Sang-hyeok. Acting head coach Ha Hyun-yong also evaluated that despite Im Sung-jin's absence, the overall strength of the outside hitters has actually improved.

This means Yoon Seo-jin faces no shortage of competitors to overcome before stepping onto the court. For Yoon, this off-season was special. In late July, he was selected for the senior national team for the first time, played evaluation matches against Brazil, and participated in the East Asian Championship. In the third evaluation match against the world powerhouse Brazil, he scored 10 points, demonstrating his potential.

Yoon said, "Being selected for the Seong In (CEO) team this time was my first experience, and it was a huge learning opportunity. I had many worries about whether I could keep up with the level of the senior players," but added, "However, once I experienced it, it became a great motivation. I started thinking that I want to keep going to the national team."

It wasn't just about having played against strong opponents. He explained, "My perspective on volleyball has changed. It wasn't just about my skills; there were many influences, such as my attitude and approach toward training."

Those around him also noticed the changes. Yoon said, "After returning from the national team, I heard many people say my skills have improved significantly. Even my mother, who was a volleyball player herself, watched me play for the first time in a long time and praised me by saying, 'It seems like you now understand how to play volleyball,' with a smile." The stimulation received in Brazil continues even in Japan.

KB Insurance is currently playing practice matches against Sakai Blazers and Kinki University during this overseas training camp. Yoon has once again broadened his horizons through Japanese volleyball. He said, "It was different from the feeling of being overwhelmed by physicality like in Brazil. No matter who plays, Japanese players have a solid foundation above a certain level. I felt that they play volleyball very intelligently."

KB Insurance, which finished third in the regular season last season, had to settle for a short spring season after losing to Woori Card in the semi-playoffs. For the new season, Andres Viegas, who was responsible for offense over four seasons, has left, and Im Sung-jin has also enlisted. In a situation where the offensive burden must be shared among several players, the growth of young players like Yoon Seo-jin is even more important.

However, Yoon himself viewed his current position with cold objectivity. He firmly stated, "Thinking that I will immediately secure a starting spot would be arrogant. I still have a long way to go and much more to see and learn."

He was humble yet did not hide his confidence. Yoon said, "I am always ready to do my best whenever I enter the game, and I also have the confidence that I can perform well. I want to play in more games than last season. I want to show what I learned during the off-season on the court."

Now, at fourth year, he wants to move beyond the simple evaluation of being a "promising talent with potential" and leave his name on the court. Yoon expressed his firm ambition: "I must not become arrogant just because I am praised for improving. Like now, I will continue to quietly do what I need to do."

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*This content was translated by AI.