"Not at a career stage where I can make excuses": Heightened sense of responsibility amid An Hye-jin's departure, setter Kim Ji-won's dazzling evolution with "back-to-back titles over FA" [Jangchung on-site interview]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

"It is not a career stage where I can make all sorts of excuses."

The vacancy left by the departure of an experienced setter was filled with an equally greater sense of responsibility. The mind of Kim Ji-won (25), the starting setter for defending champions Seoul GS Caltex, was occupied solely with the thought that she must continue to improve, even after leading her team to victory in the opening game.

GS Caltex secured a decisive 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-22) victory over Gimcheon Korea Expressway Corporation in the 2026-2027 HK Heungkuk Life V-League Women's Division opening game held at Seoul Jangchung Gymnasium on October 31.

Leveraging sharp serves to disrupt the opponent's receiving line, GS Caltex conversely created an environment where Kim Ji-won could play freely based on stable reception. Kim Ji-won led a perfect victory by actively utilizing not only her main scorer Gisele Silva (registered name Silva) but also new face Tanacha Sooksot (registered name Tanacha), Kwon Min-ji, and middle blockers Choi Ga-eun and Oh Se-yeon.

The situation had become even more weighty for Kim Ji-won after An Hye-jin left the team following her arrest for drunk driving at the end of last season. Although Park Sa-rang was acquired via trade to fill An Hye-jin's position, Kim Ji-won remained the primary option leading the attacks for the champion GS Caltex.

Kim Ji-won successfully established dominance from the first set by evenly utilizing Silva, Kwon Min-ji, Tanacha, and middle attacks. She increased the utilization of Silva in the second set, and in the third set, which was trailing, she further raised the proportion of middle attacks, standing at the center of a comeback with a direct point scored through a pass feint at the end of a long rally.

After the game, head coach Lee Young-taek praised her, saying, "Kim Ji-won did an excellent job with distribution and management." He added, "As a result, Silva was able to attack much more comfortably in one-block or 1.5-block situations, escaping the opponent's focused marking. With stable reception and the mixing of middle attacks, it seems various plays emerged."

Kim Ji-won, met after the game, smiled broadly, saying, "I felt pressure after the KOVO Cup, but I am happy that we managed to handle it well and win." She cited her teammates' dedication and off-season efforts as the keys to stable game management. She stated, "I had said before the season that I wanted to try various plays, but today my teammates received so well that I was able to do what I could even better." She continued, "Last year, middle blockers were not used much, so I tried to increase their usage. With Tanacha's arrival, the three-pronged attack became stronger, and it seems that practicing quick attacks with two middle blockers led to development."

In important situations in the second set, she increased Silva's role. Since various attacking patterns were effective in the first set, Kim Ji-won explained regarding Silva in the second set: "When the score was close in the early to mid-set, I thought we needed to find a player who could definitely produce points." She added, "At the end of the second set, we conceded consecutive points, and it seemed that would affect the next set, so I directed the ball toward Silva, our certain attacker."

She also revealed the behind-the-scenes story of her "surprise pass feint" point scored at the end of a long rally in the third set. Kim Ji-won smiled and said, "I am not usually the type to do pass feints, but I did a few during practice yesterday, and Tanacha asked me to do one in today's game. It suddenly came to mind, so I tried it."

Although Park Sa-rang joined after An Hye-jin, who had guarded the team for a long time, departed, Kim Ji-won still carries a heavy burden in terms of chemistry with her teammates and other aspects. Simultaneously, as defending champions, they are receiving great expectations, adding to the pressure to perform even better. Kim Ji-won firmly stated, "I feel a sense of responsibility, but I have also gained experience now." She added, "Since it is not a career stage where I can make all sorts of excuses, I practiced with that sense of responsibility. I am taking on new challenges with the desire to be better than last year."

Gaining free agent (FA) eligibility for the first time after this season ends could also serve as a strong motivation. Kim Ji-won said, "It would be a lie if I said it doesn't bother me," but added, "However, it does not force great responsibility or pressure on me. Rather, I want to do better this year than last year, and above all, I strongly hope the team does well."

GS Caltex has erased the tendency to rely solely on Silva and equipped itself with a more diverse arsenal. And at the center of that is Kim Ji-won, who is showcasing her evolved skills to another level.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original