"I love tteokbokki." The 192cm "SOOP's New Great Wall," Izu Xue, Confident in Ranking No. 1 in Blocking: "Comparing myself to others? It's positive stress" [V-League On-Site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Izu Xue (29, China), an Asian quota middle blocker for SOOP Supers, a new team in the women's division of the professional volleyball V-League, expressed both excitement and confidence ahead of her debut on the Korean stage.

She attended the pre-interview for the "2026-2027 Season Professional Volleyball Media Day" held at Hotel Riviera Cheongdam in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the 7th, alongside team veteran Ko Ye-rim.

The 192cm tall Izu Xue is a skilled player who played for Long Beach State in the US NCAA and later for Beijing, Liaoning, and Shanghai in China, and was selected as the Best Middle Blocker of the Chinese league in the 2022-2023 season.

When asked about her most reliable weapon, Izu Xue revealed her confidence, saying, "My attacking speed is very fast, and I can utilize a variety of attack courses. Having coordinated with setters for two months, I want to show all these strengths in the game."

Regarding the progress of coordination with setters, she explained, "We are about 80% matched. We still need more communication, so the remaining 20% is a process of adjusting. I will continue to adjust through training for handling various situations that may arise during games."

Including the era when SOOP was known as Pepper Savings Bank, Izu Xue has joined the team as an Asian quota middle blocker for three consecutive years. Regarding the pressure of being compared to previous players, she showed a mature attitude, saying, "It can be stressful, but I think of it as positive stress. Through comparison, I believe I can work harder and demonstrate my abilities. It is a good opportunity to learn from previous players."

Although SOOP faced difficulties in team composition due to delays in the club acquisition process, the team atmosphere and adaptation are progressing smoothly. Izu Xue conveyed the team's atmosphere, saying, "Even though we are coordinating for the first time, the atmosphere is not heavy but very good. We are training happily together and preparing for games."

She also spoke about her personal life with the team, stating, "It is too good. I have adapted a lot, and the team takes good care of me, so there are no inconveniences." When asked what kind of Korean food she likes, she beamed and said, "I like tteokbokki."

The solid support from her father, a former coach of the Chinese national beach volleyball team, is also a great strength. Izu Xue said, "Beach volleyball and indoor volleyball are different, so he gives me a lot of advice on body management and weight training methods rather than attacking."

She also reaffirmed her resolve for the upcoming first season and the Cup Tournament. Regarding the club's realistic goal of one win in the Cup Tournament, Izu Xue showed composure, saying, "Playing our own volleyball is more important. Since it is our first official game, I hope we all work hard to finish the game regardless of the result."

Her personal goals are also clear. Izu Xue conveyed her ambition, saying, "My top priority is to perform my skills at the highest level. It is still early to think about titles since it is pre-season, but if I had to choose, I would like to win the Middle Blocker MVP or rank No. 1 in blocking."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original