'Still Korean Air': The season has changed, but the team remains the same; worries over a backup setter and opposite are a luxury [Yeosu On-Site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

They faced all too familiar faces. Incheon Korean Air encountered former head coach Tomi Tillikainen (39) and setter Yoo Gwang-woo, who were key figures during the team's golden era, now as opponents with Daejeon Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance. Although they had to contend with a significantly different roster, Korean Air was still Korean Air.

Korean Air, led by head coach Henan Dal Zotto (66), defeated Daejeon Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance 3-1 in sets (25-21, 28-26, 16-25, 25-20) in the Group A first round of the 2026 Yeosu NH Nonghyup Cup Professional Volleyball Tournament (KOVO Cup) held at Yeosu Jinnam Gymnasium on the 19th.

Head coach Tillikainen, who led Korean Air through the 2024-2025 season before departing, and Yoo Gwang-woo, who left the team via trade, played for Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance and faced Korean Air with a drastically changed competitive strength.

The first set was won comfortably, but the second set required a hard-fought deuce battle to secure. Although they struggled to exert much force in the third set and lost it, they took the fourth set to mark their first match of the cup tournament with a victory.

It was a match that could not be evaluated by the set score alone. After the game, Head Coach Henan said, "It was a high-tension match. They are a fast team and had firepower on the offensive side." He added, "In terms of volleyball, their player depth has increased accordingly. Facing such a team is always difficult, and the tension inevitably runs high."

New foreign player Ketzinski Sender (registered name: Ketzinski) performed brilliantly, scoring 28 points, including three blocks and two service aces. His attack success rate was 53.49%. It was a debut match that left a strong impact, falling just one point short of a triple crown (three or more each in serves, blocks, and back-row attacks).

Jeong Ji-seok stepped up as a clutch player in crucial moments, recording 18 points, while Kim Gyu-min added 10 points to help secure the team's victory.

The disappointing performance came from opposite spiker Im Dong-hyeok. He managed only four points, with an attack success rate of just 13.33%. His attack efficiency was -26.67%.

However, the championship-winning coach did not simply watch the struggling parts unfold; he made changes. "Im Dong-hyeok could not show his usual level. Statistically, his success rate was 14%. Since he finished last season with strong performance (53%), it is true that today's match fell short of his usual standard," he said. He explained, "He has good records, so he will be able to play well in the future as well. In today's match, he could not keep up with the flow. Jeong Han-yong came in to organize the reception, and when Ketzinski replaced Im Dong-hyeok, the team stabilized and we were able to unravel the game well."

He continued, "We will be flexible as needed, but today it was more about how well we capitalized on opportunities in defense and counter-attacks. It is most important not to lose our identity regardless of who is on the court. It is more important that we always play our volleyball, no matter who is out there."

Asian quota setter Yamamoto Ryu, brought in with expectations for a role equal to or greater than Yoo Gwang-woo's, appeared in the first and third sets but did not receive many opportunities. Head Coach Henan said, "When he was first put in, it was to close out the game. After that, the team was already in a difficult situation, so it was hard for him to show much." He added, "There will definitely be more opportunities for him to showcase his skills."

This tournament focuses more on the process than simply the result. Therefore, having the opportunity to identify problems that arise during matches and devise solutions in advance can be a better chance. That is why this was a meaningful first match of the new season for the championship-winning coach.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original