SOOP, Hit by Bad Luck with Star Scorer Odriana on Crutches… Coach Kim Se-jin Sighs: "Full Replacement? All Options Are Open" [Jangchung On-Site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Kim Se-jin (52), head coach of SOOP Supers, expressed regret over the sudden absence of star scorer Odriana as the team aims for its first victory since its founding.

SOOP will play an away game against GS Caltex in Round 1 of the women's division of the "Jin Air 2026~2027 V-League" at Jangchung Gymnasium in Jung-gu, Seoul, at 4 p.m. on the 14th.

Bad news struck before the game. During a practice session the previous day, Odriana stepped on a teammate's foot, suffering a severe injury that twisted her left ankle. At Jangchung Gymnasium on the day of the match, she was seen moving around with crutches, evoking sympathy.

Before the game, Coach Kim Se-jin sighed, "As things stand, it seems like it will take a long time." When asked about the possibility of a full replacement, he answered, "All possibilities are open."

He added, "Bringing in a player from another team via buyout is a significant burden for the club, and there is no guarantee that she would deliver equivalent performance." He explained, "We are looking into it first, but we cannot confirm an immediate replacement. We will conduct a detailed diagnosis on Monday, and if her will to return is strong, we may continue with her. If it feels like it will be prolonged, we must also consider a replacement."

Currently sitting in sixth place in the league with three losses, SOOP desperately seeks its first win since its founding. In their match against IBK Industrial Bank of Korea on the 10th, they lost with a set score of 1-3, but showed hope by recording 13 team blocks, overwhelming IBK Industrial Bank of Korea (7).

At that time, Odriana scored 18 points, but her attack success rate remained at 25.76%, leaving room for improvement in decisiveness. Coach Kim Se-jin swallowed his regret, saying, "We were expecting physical condition to improve as the games progressed, but this was truly an unexpected accident."

With the star scorer's absence, lineup changes became inevitable. Coach Kim Se-jin stated, "First, I plan to put in (Jeon) Se-yan. To have (Go) Ui-jeong attack, we need to reduce her receiving burden."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original