Posts by Moebius

Official Korean NT squad for Intercontinental Olympic Qualification Tournament in August.

Outside hitters:

• KIM Yeon-koung (Eczacıbaşı)

• KANG So-hwi (GS Caltex)

• LEE Jae-yeong (Heungkuk Life)

• LEE So-young (GS Caltex)

• PYO Seung-ju (IBK Altos)

Middle blockers:

• LEE Ju-ah (Heungkuk Life)

• KIM Su-ji (IBK Altos)

• JUNG Dae-young (KEC Hi-pass)

• YANG Hyo-jin (Hyundai E&C)

Opposites:

• KIM Hee-jin (IBK Altos)

• HA Hye-jin (KEC Hi-pass)

Setters:

• LEE Da-yeong (Hyundai E&C)

• LEE Na-yeon (IBK Altos)

• AN Hye-jin (GS Caltex)

Liberos:

• KIM Hae-ran (Heungkuk Life)

• OH Ji-young (KGC Ginseng)

Unfortunately Park Jeong-ah is still recovering from ankle injury and won't be able to join her teammates.

Source: 1, 2

Quote from QueenPiccininiLover

I just wonder how long Pascucci can last in South Korea. She never played Serie A1 as starter. How can she score 30+ points each match?

Yes, it's an interesting signing. I think everyone was expecting Heungkuk to choose an OP and as I understand Pascucci is primarily OH.

Quote from theloneracer

News Update:

• IBK Altos and Hyundai E&C have decided to re-sign Adora Anae and Milagros Collar respectively. Both players will be earning $200K USD in their 2nd season. Sources: 1, 2, 3

This also means that KGC and Hi-Pass released Alaina Bergsma and Fatou Diouck, respectively. I think Alaina will most likely sign a contract with another team, after all these years spent in Korea she's relatively low risk signing.

I was really surpirised to see Taylor's Simpson (Cook) name on the draft list, maybe she's aiming to get back as a potential replacement.

Quote from theloneracer

News Update:

• Good news and bad news for Expressway Hi-pass fans.
  
  The good news is that libero Yim Myung-Ok (YMO) will stay at Expressway Hi-pass for another 2 seasons. An official from Hi-pass said that they have signed a new contract with YMO. The new contract is two years long and it will see YMO earn 180M KRW (approx. $158K USD) annually.
  
  And... the bad news is that middle blocker Bae Yoo-Na (BYN) is very likely to leave. One report stated that negotiation with BYN has virtually broken down and a Hi-pass official was quoted as saying "The contract with BYN is likely to be difficult". A second report wrote that despite Hi-pass head coach Kim Jong-Min (KJM) had requested the club to re-sign BYN but the club's decision to give up on re-signing her has left KJM shocked. While a third report wrote that because BYN will soon be a newly-wed, she wants to reside in a metropolitan area.
  
  I'm not sure if the conjecture in that last report is even true or even confirm but there is some merit. BYN's fiancé Baek Seung-Ho is currently a swimmer for Osan City Hall. Osan is like about a 2-hours drive to get to Gimcheon (where Expressway Hi-pass is based). Too long to travel that distance, twice almost every day for either of them. So BYN might want to settle somewhere nearer to Osan, somewhere near like Suwon (Hyundai), Hwaseong (IBK), Seoul (GS) or Incheon (Heungkuk), all around a 1-hour drive of Osan.
  
  Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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My guess is Mr Baek Seung-ho is not very popular individual among Hi-Pass fans at this moment. If BYN really leaves, Hi-Pass might want to sign Kim Na-hee as a replacement. She's the same age as BYN and still a very decent MB.

Quote from theloneracer

News about transfers/trade won't come out until after the season has ended.

At the end of this season I think the following players are Free Agents (not official list so not 100% sure):

• Expressway Hi-pass - Yim Myung-Ok [Li] and Bae Yoo-Na [MB]
• IBK Altos - Lee Na-Yeon [S] and Go Ye-Rim [OH]
• Hyundai E&C - Hwang Youn-Joo [OP], Yang Hyo-Jin [MB], and Go Yoo-Min [OH]
• GS Caltex - Pyo Seung-Ju [OH/OP] and Lee Go-Eun [S]
• KGC GInseng - N/A
• Heungkuk Pink Spiders - Kim Na-Hee [MB], Shin Yeon-Gyeong [OH], and Gong Yun-Hui [OH]
  
  Source: 1

KOVO announced an official list of players who qualify for FA status this year.

No surprises here, it's exactly the same list as the one already posted.

Source: 1

If I'm not mistaken, it's the first championship title for veteran Kim Hae-ran, arguably the best Korean libero in recent years. Both teams deserve highest praise, Hi-Pass played 7th game in 13 days but were still fighting to the very end. Splendid season.

Heartbreaking result for GS, they've simply ran out of steam in the middle of third set. Maybe if Aliona was able to play, things might've ended up differently. Fatou Diouck tormented her former teammates in this game, she's doing much better this year.

Whatever the outcome, Heungkuk staff is probably very content.

Once again GS Caltex showed true fighting spirit. KOVO playoff schedule is rushed,

both teams have only 1 day to recover after playing two intense 5 set games. I think in this situation GS-Caltex have a slight edge. Average age of their starting lineup (in today's game) is 24. Hi-Pass is much older team: 31+. I'm really looking forward to final game.

After watching it again: Bae Yoo-na didn't touch the ball after all. Previously I saw it only from one angle (Heungkuk side of the net) plus Tomsia reaction looked very convincing, you have to admit.

What puzzles me is situation in first set; (cant remember the exact moment) Lee Jae-young made an error and was trying to sway the referee. in situation like this, theres always a replay but they've decided not to show any.

Yes indeed, but to be fair video verification officials made two controversial decisions against Heungkuk. At the end of the first set ball touched the shoulder of Moon Jung-won and in the second Bae Yoo-na finger moved after one of Tomsia spikes. At least in tv coverage replays it looked that way.

Quote from theloneracer

Definitely this season, Ivana is not performing. The ball she hitting ain't getting pass the defender or finding the floor. It a mystery as to why she not getting the result like last season. If she can just get her mojo back Hi-pass can get back into the mix.

Hello, as always it's a real pleasure to see theloneracer superb match reports.

Apparently Ivana is no longer a Hi-Pass player. They're looking for a replacement for her.

Sources: 1 , 2

I think Heungkuk performance eventually will improve, new players need some time to adapt. Are they good enough to dominate the league like some people predicted is a different matter.

Well done Korea. Spikers Lee Jae-Young and Kim Yeong-Koung get well deserved attention but I'd like to focus on a setter Lee Hyo-Hee. Her presence and experience is indispensable for Korean NT. I'm glad that she's back with the team.

It looks like former Heungkuk coach Cha Hae-Won will lead Korea NT this year. I wonder what prompted this change. 1
By the way, something went wrong with NT photoshoot for VNL this year Lighting is just so unflattering.

Game 1: Korea Expressway Corp. Hi-pass 3-2 IBK Altos ( 25 - 23, 25 - 20, 23 - 25, 23 - 25, 17 - 15 )

What a tense game. Hi-Pass won despite losing two close run sets and being down 10-14 (!) in 5th set. Park Jeong-Ah had a great match, with some crucial spikes, 27 points and almost 50% efficency rate.
I'm really happy for Hi-Pass. It's only one game, but this victory may prove vital.

Do you know by any chance what Bae Yoona actually won? Most Attractive Player Award? It was really confusing.

Quote from theloneracer

NEWS:

- Heungkuk has confirmed Taylor Simpson has left Incheon Int'l Airport on 18th November. No other details provided but it's pretty obvious that Heungkuk is replacing Taylor. It must be disappointing for her that she couldn't finish the season again due to injuries. Source: 1

That's very disappointing indeed. I guess proposing to someone in a public place does bring bad luck after all.

But seriously, the next two matches could be vital to Heungkuk. Losing another 5 or 6 points might seal their fate in this season for good.

PS.
I bet posting this stuff on a bad day, might feel like shouting into the void. I really enjoy reading this summaries, those additianal links are also exceptionally helpful.
Thanks very much sir.

It's been a busy season for Korean national team, congratulations for winning a qualification in Thailand. Nonetheless, I find mr. Hong Sung-Jin way of managing his setters questionable. The treatment of aforementioned Cho Song-Hwa in this tournament was quite peculiar.