"Confident in Any Position": New Role Delivers Dominant Performance in V-League Opener, Korean Air's Ketchinski Makes Successful Debut [On the Ground in Incheon]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

It was last May. At the 2026 Foreign Player Tryout held in Prague, Czech Republic, Hernan Dal Zotto, head coach of Korean Air, asked Zander Ketchinski (26, Canada), "Are you confident about changing positions?" The answer was clear. Ketchinski replied, "I am ready for anything. As long as I can join this team (Korean Air), I am confident in any position and have the confidence to take on the challenge." Looking back on that moment, Coach Hernan said, "(Ketchinski) had that much enthusiasm and determination."

Since then, Ketchinski, now wearing the Korean Air uniform, has handled not only his primary position as an opposite spiker but also the role of outside hitter. He can be utilized in different ways depending on the situation, both as a starter and during the game. For Korean Air, this is an arsenal without equal; for opposing teams, preparing for Ketchinski is inevitably difficult. Given that Ketchinski stands at 207 cm tall and is a former scoring champion of the German league, the burden on opposing teams can only grow heavier.

They had already seen the effect in the previous Cup tournament. In the final of the 2026 Yeosu NH Nonghyup Cup Pro Volleyball Tournament held at Yeosu Jinnam Gymnasium in South Jeolla and Gwangju, against Hyundai Capital Life Insurance, starting opposite spiker Im Dong-hyeok struggled. Coach Hernan changed the momentum by shifting Ketchinski, who had been playing as an outside hitter, to a different role, leading the team to the top of the tournament. Ketchinski, who scored 25 points—the highest among both teams—also took home the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

The momentum from successfully completing this preliminary battle was no different in the 2026-2027 HK Hyeungguk Financial V-League home opener against Hyundai Capital Life Insurance, held on the 31st of last month at Incheon Gyeongyang Gymnasium. He stepped up as an outside hitter and truly soared that day. He recorded 19 points, the highest among both teams, with an attack success rate of 75%. He committed only two errors. Ketchinski rose to the occasion in crucial moments to complete attacks, allowing Im Dong-hyeok, who played as the opposite spiker, to roar at key junctures as well. Thanks to this, Korean Air secured a 3-0 shutout victory over Hyundai Capital Life Insurance, marking their opener with a win.

Coach Hernan also applauded Ketchinski's performance. "Going forward, how we utilize Ketchinski will vary depending on the opposing team and our team's style," Coach Hernan said. "Not only does Ketchinski have enthusiasm and determination, but our existing players are well-versed in his abilities, accepting him and trying to help him. Thanks to that cohesion, it seems Ketchinski can play volleyball comfortably and with a sense of being protected."

Ketchinski said, "I was very excited by the fans' cheers and shouts. I feel good about winning. It wasn't just me; all the players worked hard and played well, which is why we won." He added, "I try not to think too much about errors. If you think about errors, one error leads to another. (Rather than focusing on errors,) I try to concentrate more on what I can do well in my play."

He then cautioned against complacency, stating, "We have only finished one game so far." Ketchinski revealed his determination to improve further from his debut match, saying, "There are definitely areas that need improvement. Today, Lee Sang-wook and Jung Ji-seok did a great job with their receiving. I also need to supplement my receiving through training so that I can help the other players."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original