Lee Da-hyun captivates Japan! Fans praise: "Actress-like looks and overwhelming skill" → Coach Kodai Nakatani hails her as a "smart player with a sharp mind"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Lee Da-hyun (24, NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki), a middle blocker for the South Korean women's national volleyball team, made a strong impression from her debut match on the Japanese SV League stage, winning over local fans.

On the 17th, Lee started in the home opener against Victorina Himeji at the Tokyu Dreamy Todoroki Arena in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, as part of the 2024-2025 SV League season. Her team, NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki, suffered a narrow comeback defeat with a set score of 2-3 after a five-set thriller, but Lee's performance stood out prominently.

Named in the starting lineup that day, Lee erupted for a total of 14 points, including six blocks. After blocking an opponent's attack solo early in the first set, she connected with setter Tsukasa Nakagawa's back toss to score on a moving attack, demonstrating perfect chemistry.

According to a report by Japanese media outlet The Answer on the 21st, after completely shutting down an opposing spike, Lee roared on the court, drawing enthusiastic applause from over 3,300 home spectators as her nickname, "Datti," echoed through the arena.

Japanese fans' interest in Lee is not new. She had already generated significant buzz on local social media when she faced Japan as a member of the South Korean team at the Asian Championships in August and the Hangzhou Asian Games in September. At the time, Japanese fans showered her with praise, saying things like "She has an elegant appearance like an actress," "Her skin is clear and her skills are overwhelming," and "She is strong and cool."

Due to national team call-ups for events such as the Asian Games, Lee had only about two weeks to join the NEC club and train. However, head coach Kodai Nakatani expressed deep trust in her, stating, "She is a very smart player, so her adaptation to the team was surprisingly fast."

In a post-match press conference, where Lee responded fluently in English, she credited her teammates for her quick adjustment. She said, "Even though I made many mistakes during training, no one blamed me; everyone helped me. Thanks to that warm atmosphere, I felt like I quickly became 'part of the team.'"

She then expressed gratitude toward captain and setter Nakagawa, saying, "She carefully teaches me a lot about things like rhythm and timing. Thanks to her, I was able to play comfortably as if I were still with the national team."

Regarding her first impression of the Japanese stage, Lee noted, "There are many high-level foreign players, and particularly breaking through Japan's unique solid defense is the biggest difference from the Korean league." She resolved to contribute to team victories in an improved form for the remainder of the season, fueled by the warm support of the fans. With her combination of skill, visuals, and approachability, Lee's performance has drawn the attention of the Japanese volleyball world.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original