Even after the 2022-2023 season was over, the V-League was busy. The transfer of free agents (FA), compensation players, and Asian quota and foreign player drafts were held one after another. Although the rookie draft remains, the reinforcement of players in preparation for the 2023-2024 season has been completed.
In the female foreign player draft held in Istanbul, Turkey on the 13th (Korean time), only Heungkuk Life Insurance renewed the contract with the existing player among the seven clubs. Expectations for Apogee Spiker (Light) Yelena, who boasts a tall height of 196 cm, were reflected. Wearing the KGC Ginseng Corporation uniform for the 2021-2022 season, he played on the V-League court for three consecutive seasons. Heungkuk Life coach Marcello Abondanza said, “Yelena is a player who can grow even bigger. She has already made up her mind to renew the contract and came here.”
Yelena played a big role in the 2022-2023 season, ranking 3rd in scoring and 4th in attack success rate, leading Heungkuk Life Insurance’s regular league 1st place. She ranked 11th in both offense as well as blocking and dig, and her defense also stood out. As a result, Heungkuk Life Insurance has once again built a left and right pair of Kim Yeon-kyung and Yelena, who signed free agent contracts with the best treatment.
Heungkuk Life Insurance aimed for a combined championship last season. In the regular league, he competed fiercely with Hyundai E&C and laughed at the end. In the championship match against Korea Expressway Corporation, he won the first and second games and reached the threshold of victory. However, from the 3rd game onwards, they collapsed and suffered a high blow.스포츠토토
Suji Kim. Sports Donga DB
Heungkuk Life’s weaknesses were clearly revealed. One of them is the middle blocker (center). The center fast attack or blocking was weak. This is the reason why free agent Kim Su-ji was recruited. It is Kim Yeon-kyung’s ‘best friend’, but it is an essential resource for strengthening height. Suji Kim ranked 5th in both blocking and moving attacks last season, and marked 9th in fast attack. With Kim Yeon-kyung and Yelena Ssangpo, if Kim Su-ji’s central attack exerts its power, it can build a powerful force.
Abondanza, who joined at the end of last season, did not have enough time to incorporate his style. Now that his power reinforcement is virtually finished, he is expected to wear his volleyball color in earnest. He said, “I strongly believe that the championship challenge is not over yet. He wants to win with this member.”
Leave a Reply