Outside heater Ko Ye-rim (30) of the women’s professional volleyball Hyundai Engineering & Construction underwent knee surgery after completing the 2022-2023 season. He returned from the second half of the 2023-2024 season after a long rehabilitation, but was not given a starting position. The two seats of Hyundai Engineering & Construction’s outside heater were occupied by Jung Ji-yoon, who became a native gun, and Asia Quarter Wipawi (Thailand). Ko Ye-rim’s main task was to take his place when Jeong Ji-yoon, who was unstable in receiving, was shaken, or to play the three positions when Jeong Ji-yoon fell to the rear in the middle of the set.
Ko Ye-rim’s role was limited and her offense weakened further in the aftermath of knee surgery. Naturally, she scored fewer points. Starting with 109 points in the 2015-2016 season, which was her third year, Ko Ye-rim played as a key player for eight consecutive seasons from the 2022-2023 season, but she played in 15 games, 40 sets, and scored only 31 points in the 2023-2024 season. The score was lower than in the first and second seasons (90 points and 79 points).
Although the 2024-2025 season opened, Ko Ye-rim spent more time guarding the warm-up zone than the court. Still, Hyundai Engineering & Construction’s left side was guarded by Jung Ji-yoon and Wi Pawi. Ko Ye-rim played the role of the No. 1 backup outside heater when the two players falter. Having shaken off all the aftereffects of knee surgery, Ko quietly trained and waited for an opportunity to show her true value.
The third round match of the 2024-2025 V-League against Heungkuk Life Insurance took place at Suwon Gymnasium on Tuesday. Jung Ji-yoon, who has suffered from a worsening waist injury, will be absent, and coach Kang Sung-hyung called in Ko Ye-rim for the occasion. It was Ko’s first start of the season. However, he was conditional. “Ko Ye-rim and Seo Ji-hye will be replaced in Jeong’s place,” Kang said before the match.
Kang did not need to call Seo Ji-hye, a rookie in her second year in the warm-up zone. Ko displayed perfect performance on the day. She displayed her true value in attack, which was somewhat disappointing compared to her capacity for receiving. She displayed a success rate of 45.45 percent (5/11) at both the Quick Open (50 percent, 5/10) and the Open with high probability. She also had one time difference. With a success rate of 50 percent, she scored 13 points each with serve points and one block. It was the highest number of points scored by both teams.
She also showed off her presence in serves. Notably, Ko Yerim successfully opened the scoring at 14-12 in the first set, and made 10 serves in a row. She only had one serve, but Heungkuk Life’s receiving was shaken by Ko’s tricky serve. Hyundai Engineering & Construction scored 10 consecutive points in an instant, bringing the first set to light. The outcome of the first set is virtually decided.
Amid Ko Ye-rim’s performance, Hyundai Engineering & Construction avenged the loss to Heungkuk Life Insurance in the first and second rounds, earning three points and presenting its first consecutive defeat of the season to Heungkuk Life Insurance, whose opening 14 consecutive wins were broken. Heungkuk Life Insurance, which lost to Hyundai Engineering & Construction on the 17th following the Jeonggwanjang match, remained at 40 points (14 wins and 2 losses) and allowed Hyundai Engineering & Construction (37 points, 12 wins and 4 losses), which received three points, to chase by three points. Heungkuk Life Insurance is shaken by only two losses.
After the game, she was selected as a trainee and visited the interview room. When asked when she had an interview with the trainee, she replied, “It’s been a long time. I can’t remember. It’s been a long time.”
“I was nervous at first. Still, I was very nervous. I wanted to play without regret,” Ko said. “I had fun playing volleyball in a long time. My strength came out well, and I was able to maintain the tension.”
When asked about her lack of attack ability after knee surgery, Ko said, “I took enough time to rehabilitate after surgery, so it wasn’t that I lost my attack ability due to my physical condition. As I played less time, it was hard to find the rhythm. As I mainly played receiving, I think my attack rhythm became a bit dull. I think I had a decent attack rhythm, but there were days when I only received receiving. That’s why I lost my attack ability, not because of my physical condition.”
In the first set, Ko had 14 serves. Ten of them included 10 consecutive serves that he made at 15-12. “I don’t think I had 10 consecutive serves in my memory. I think I was embarrassed because I had good receptions when my teammates ate my serve consecutively,” he said with a smile. 먹튀검증
Due to Jung Ji-yoon’s waist injury, Ko is expected to have more chances to start for the time being. “I’m lying if I say there’s no pressure, but I don’t want to think about that. I’m just going to do what I practiced and what I prepared,” he said.
After finishing the 2018-2019 season, Ko became the first free agent in her career and stayed at Hyundai E&C after the 2021-2022 season. She will become the third free agent after the end of this season. She must be conscious. Nevertheless, she is committed to giving up her greed. “Now is the time to let go of her greed for the free agent,” she said. “When I think about that, I don’t think the rhythm of the game will match. When I get a chance, I have to show my ability first,” she said. “My goal is to win two consecutive championships because the members are the same as last season. That’s what I have to do.”
Ko Ye-rim, who was noted for her outstanding appearance and pretty face as an “ultimate volleyball player” when she debuted. Born in 1994, she is now in her 30s. Asked if she feels pressured by physical strength, she said, “I don’t know about physical strength yet. I used to jump as soon as I tied my shoelaces, but now it takes some time to warm up. Except for this part, it’s okay.”
