IBK finished the first four games of the 2024-2025 season with two wins and two losses. It has won all four games since then. Starting with beating GS Caltex 3-2 after a rough match on the 6th, it beat GS Caltex 3-0 on the 9th, GS Caltex 3-1 on the 14th, and Pepper Savings Bank 3-0 on the 17th.
There were conflicting evaluations in the volleyball community over IBK Industrial Bank’s four consecutive wins from the end of the first round to the beginning of the second round. Some criticized it as “just four consecutive wins against two teams who were considered weak,” and others viewed it as the strongest opponent that will crack the second-tier system that Heungkuk Life Insurance and Hyundai Engineering & Construction have established since the beginning of the season, saying, “It is definitely a different power compared to last season.
In that sense, the showdown with Hyundai Engineering & Construction in the second round at Suwon Gymnasium on the 21st was selected as a game that could determine whether IBK Industrial Bank’s rise is real or thanks to Daejin luck.
The result? IBK won 3-2 (21-25 27-25 25-13 15-25 15-13 15-13) after a close game in the full set. With the victory, IBK ended Hyundai Engineering & Construction’s seven-game winning streak and increased their winning streak to five. They also proved themselves that their winning streak is no match for good luck.
Of course, the team’s performance was not that smooth. In just the first set, Yang lost easily, blocking six offensives, including three blocks to Yang Hyo-jin.
He showed his improvement in the second set, leading 12-5 in the beginning of the set, and seemed to easily tie the score 1-1. However, he allowed Hyundai Engineering & Construction to chase down him little by little, and allowed as many as five consecutive points at 17-12, tying the score at 17-17. The set, which will end with a landslide victory, has turned into a super close match. It seemed to give the mood away, but it was Victoria Danchak of Ukraine who saved IBK. Victoria, who won the set point by scoring a serve point falling behind Jung Ji-yoon’s back at 25-25, then scored a point to bring the second set with a back attack.
For Hyundai Engineering & Construction, the aftermath of giving up the set that caught up with all of them somewhat futilely reached the third set, and IBK Industrial Bank overwhelmed the third set 25-13.
If IBK Industrial Bank had transformed into a real strong team, it had to win the fourth set, but the fourth set was reversed from the third set. Libero Kim Chae-won’s reception was shaken greatly and he lost the opportunity to win three points as he lost the fourth set 15-25.
If it were IBK Industrial Bank of Korea in previous years, the aftermath of losing the fourth set would have been the same in the fifth set, but it has surely changed. Victoria was at the center of this. Victoria alone scored eight points in the fifth set, more than half of her team’s points. She was responsible for all three points that ended the match at 12-12. A strong ace gives her strength to overcome a close game. 메이저사이트
Victoria was picked by IBK Industrial Bank of Korea as the fourth player in the tryout. Her name was picked as the fourth player after Zavicic (Pepper Savings Bank exited due to poor performance), Bukiric (director Jeong), and Nicolova (Korea Expressway Corporation). As the ranking indicates, she did not have high expectations.
Victoria, however, seems to be enjoying the limelight of IBK Industrial Bank of Korea. With 278 points as of Sunday, the Korean team is the undisputed No. 1 scorer. It is overwhelmingly No. 1 with a 55-point gap with second-ranked MOMA (223 points). IBK was able to beat Hyundai E&C again on the day because it is considered the best foreign player in the women’s V-League and Victoria had an overwhelming victory over MOMA, who won the MVP award last season. Of course, MOMA moved back and forth between the court and the warm-up zone due to poor condition on the day. Victoria had 32 points and 45.31 percent attack success rate, outpacing MOMA with 26 points and 36.07 percent.
Victoria’s score is not limited to simple hitting. She also has high purity. She ranks third in attack rate for this season with 43.01 percent, following Kim Yeon-koung (Hungkuk Life Insurance Co., 46.20 percent), and Mega (Jung Won, 43.66 percent). As Victoria (246) has more successful attacks than Kim Yeon-koung (140) and Mega (148), Victoria is displaying the best contribution this season at least.
What is more encouraging to IBK Industrial Bank is that its power is not 100 percent yet. If Lee So-young, who has not fully recovered from her injury, can join the main lineup, her power can be maximized. As Yuk Seo-young, who is playing the main role instead of Lee So-young, has improved further this season, it is a waste to be pushed back as a warm-up zone just because Lee So-young returns. Manager Kim Ho-chul may have more room to customize the three outside heaters, including Hwang Min-kyung, Yuk Seo-young and Lee So-young, depending on the opponent team’s tendencies and compatibility.
How long will IBK’s winning streak continue at the beginning of this season? IBK’s bid for the sixth consecutive win is against the Gimcheon Expressway Corporation on Wednesday.
