Women’s volleyball IBK Industrial Bank is waiting for Lee So-young’s full return, the final puzzle for a rebound.
Before the 2024-2025 season, Lee signed a three-year, free agent contract with IBK Industrial Bank of Korea for a total of 2.1 billion won (approx. Lee’s joining as both an offense and a defense team is expected to boost her performance.
However, Lee’s departure was delayed due to shoulder injury, which caused miscalculation. She has been playing in the court since October 30, but has not achieved 100 percent yet. Having played the role of liberator since the season’s opening, she has been gradually participating in offense until this month. The first goal of this season has yet to be scored.
As Lee failed to play her role, her team management was also out of line. The upward trend in the early days of the season, which was followed by foreign player Victoria’s performance, has recently slowed down due to Victoria’s physical stamina. The team is in fourth place.
Kim Ho-chul, director of IBK Industrial Bank, also said, “When I first formed the team, I thought I was in the top group,” adding, “There was a setback when So-young, the most important member of our team, was excluded.”
The team’s rebound condition is also “healthy Lee So-young.” “Still, the players are performing better than expected. It’s time for the players to get tired, and it’s important how long they can endure,” Kim said. “As long as So-young comes in, we can start the best.”
However, he has no intention of using Lee too much in order for his team to push ahead. Coach Kim plans to give Lee enough time.
Coach Kim said, “I have the will, but it will be difficult because it is a place where I had surgery once. If it goes wrong, I may have to end the season, so I am cautious.”
“I also talked to Soyoung. I asked her to let me know when there is a time when she thinks she can do it. I asked her to throw her all-out efforts from then on,” he said. “I think it is right to put her in when she becomes a player no matter when.”
Lee should hold out as much as possible until she fully recovers. “Although it is a tough situation, I am aiming for four wins (two losses) in the round. I have to endure until the team is completed,” coach Kim said. “When Lee So-young returns, the team will be completed.” 안전놀이터
