'Opening Match Blowout': Silva's 52% Attack Efficiency More Welcomed Than Her 27 Points; GS Caltex's Coach Lee Young-tak Highlights "Mutual Growth" [Jangchung On-Site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

As expected, they delivered. Seoul GS Caltex smiled from the opening match with a more solidified roster.

GS Caltex, led by Coach Lee Young-tak, secured a decisive 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-22) victory in the set score against Gimcheon Korea Expressway Corporation in the opening match of the 2026-2027 HK Hwaseung Life V-League Women's Division, held at Jangchung Gymnasium in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 31st.

Although they were rated as the top championship contender after winning both the title as defending champions and the Cup tournament, the result exceeded expectations.

Opposite spiker Gizel Silva (registered name: Silva) exploded for a team-high 27 points, achieving an attack success rate of up to 60%. She accounted for 40% of the team's attacks.

Newly joined Asian quota player Tanacha Sooksot (registered name: Tanacha) scored 13 points, while rapidly growing Kwon Min-ji poured in 11 points. The team secured a blowout victory by effectively utilizing Choi Ga-eun (7 points) and Oh Se-yeon (5 points) from the middle.

Before the game, Coach Lee cited the opponent's defense as a strength and stated, "Rather than hitting hard while accepting unforced errors, we will find a solution by attacking with both long and short balls," and this strategy worked perfectly.

There were four service aces, but most importantly, it was effective in properly shaking up the opponent's powerful weapon, the receiving line. Korea Expressway Corporation's receiving efficiency was limited to 30.88%, resulting in a failure to establish proper attack connections. Conversely, GS Caltex, based on stable receiving (efficiency of 44.64%), deployed various attacks and secured an easy victory.

Coach Lee Young-tak, met after the game, praised the team, saying, "It was a very well-played game. I did not expect to win so one-sidedly," adding, "The players seem to have managed their bodies and adjusted their condition well during the two weeks following the KOVO Cup."

Korea Expressway Corporation took the lead by changing the outside hitter position with Park Jeong-a in the second set and Kang So-hwi in the third set, but ultimately could not stop GS Caltex's momentum. Coach Lee expressed satisfaction, stating, "During the two games in the KOVO Cup, we experienced all of Korea Expressway Corporation's outside hitter combinations," and continued, "We analyzed that and prepared accordingly. I thought that if anyone came in, as long as we did our part, we would have a good game. The analysis and preparation matched well, and the players quickly adapted to the opponent's substitutions, leading to a good performance."

Kwon Min-ji's growth is astonishing. Following her performances in last season's championship finals and the Cup tournament, she delivered a surprising display from the new season's opening match. Coach Lee gave a thumbs up, saying, "She has many assets, but there have been ups and downs. She gained a lot of confidence during the championship finals, and although she wavered early in the KOVO Cup, she performed incredibly in the final. Her own rhythm was good. That momentum carried over well into the opening match."

Not only Kwon Min-ji, but also Tanacha's joining and the growth of middle blockers reduced the offensive burden on Silva. Coach Lee smiled and said, "Just looking at today's game, Kim Ji-won did a great job with distribution and management. As a result, Silva could receive focused marking from the opponent more comfortably; there were several instances of one-blocker coverage and even 1.5-blocker coverage today," adding, "It will become easier for Silva to play. There is good penetration from the outside, but as receiving stabilizes and middle attacks are mixed in, it seems they can execute diverse plays."

Stable receiving, relaxed game management, and teammates who effectively finish scoring on the opposite side. Silva, whose career attack efficiency is 29.75%, achieved an attack efficiency of a whopping 52.5% today. With her teammates contributing strength, Silva was able to attack in a much more comfortable situation, inevitably leading to higher efficiency.

Of course, GS Caltex is ultimately a team that cannot be explained without Silva. Only by sharing the burden with other players on days like this can Silva conserve stamina and use her power effectively during games and throughout the season. Coach Lee expressed confidence, stating, "When it's time to use her, she must be used. Although she has aged another year, she manages herself very well, and since the training department has been working with us for four years, I believe they have sufficient manuals for management. If managed according to those manuals, she will be able to perform well until the end."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original