'SOOP Suffers Complete Defeat in Debut Match': Head Coach Kim Se-jin, "Odriana Reports Headache and Dizziness" [Yeosu On-Site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Kim Se-jin, head coach of women's professional volleyball team SOOP Supers, stated regarding foreign player Odriana, who was absent from the club's first official match, that "she is reporting a headache and dizziness."

In a press conference following the 0-3 (21-25, 16-25, 19-25) defeat to IBK Industrial Bank of Korea in the Group A first round of the group stage at the 2026 Yeosu·NH Nonghyup Cup Professional Volleyball Tournament held on the 11th at Jinnam Gymnasium in Yeosu, Head Coach Kim Se-jin explained, "While there were no abnormalities found in CT scans and such, she says she feels dizzy. So she did not come along at all."

SOOP, which was newly established after acquiring Pepper Savings Bank last May, played its first official match through this Cup tournament opener on the day but could not avoid a complete defeat due to the absence of their foreign player. This contrasted with their opponent, IBK Industrial Bank of Korea, where Victoria accounted for a team-high 15 points. It was reported that Odriana hit her head with the ball during team training.

Head Coach Kim Se-jin said, "If it were an ankle, shoulder, or knee issue, we would judge the next course of action, but (Odriana) only says she has a headache and feels dizzy. If we brought her in suddenly and she had to leave during the match due to dizziness, it could cause systemic problems. So she is currently resting."

Regarding the defeat on the day, he said, "The setters must have felt frustrated because points were not coming out. However, it was not that the setters' Toss was unstable. They were confused about where to deliver the ball. If we had one reliable option, like Victoria smashing for them (as the opponent did), and told her to solve it that way, it would be good, but we were in a situation where such an attack was impossible. I think we need to talk with the setters to relieve some of the pressure."

Head Coach Kim added, "Apart from being shaken when strong serves were hit, I believe their understanding of side-outs and such has improved. Points like finding good defensive positioning and movements for cover plays seem to have come out as practiced."

Meanwhile, Head Coach Manabe Masayoshi (Japan), who led his team to victory in the first match to secure a debut win on the Korean stage, gave an overall assessment: "I would like to express my happiness at securing our first win."

Regarding Im Myeong-ok, who performed well on the day, he said, "She played without any problems at all," and added, "Park Eun-seo also had moments where she did not mesh with the attackers, but I think she performed well as practiced."

This Cup tournament, held ahead of the professional volleyball V-League, will be held in Gwangju Yeosu, South Jeolla Province this year, following last year's event. Seven women's teams will compete from the 11th to the 18th, and seven men's teams will battle from the 19th to the 25th for the championship cup. In both the men's and women's divisions, the top two teams from each group in the group stage will advance to the quarterfinal tournament to determine the champion. The championship prize money is 50 million won.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original