Fell from a height again. The Korean women’s national volleyball team, coached by Cesar Hernandez Gonzalez, suffered its third straight loss.
The Koreans fell 0-3 (16-25 25-27 11-25) in straight sets to the USA in their third match of Week 1 of the FIVB Volleyball Nations League 2023 (VNL) in Antalya, Turkey, on 3 February.
The Koreans fell to the Americans without winning a single set, following wins over Turkiye (1) and Canada (2). Pyo Seung-ju (IBK) was the only Korean player to reach double figures on the day.
Jung Ho-young (KGC Ginseng Corporation), Kim Mi-yeon (Heungkuk Life Insurance) added seven points and Park Eun-jin (KGC Ginseng Corporation) and Moon Ji-yoon (GS Caltex) six points each, but it was not enough to overcome the second-ranked USA. The Americans were led by outside hitter Daniele Coutino with a team-high 19 points and Avery Skinner with 14 points.토토사이트
Perry Veronica and middle blocker Brian Butler added eight and six points, respectively. The USA also outplayed Korea in the ‘height’ battle, as Coutino intercepted six Korean attacks.
In blocks, the USA held a 15-3 advantage over Korea. Unlike the previous two matches, Coach Gonzalez used a different starting lineup against the USA.
Setter Kim Da-in (Hyundai E&C), outside hitter Moon Ji-yoon (GS Caltex), middle blockers Jung Ho-young and Park Eun-jin (KGC Ginseng), outside hitters Pyo Seung-joo (IBK) and Kim Mi-yeon (Heungkuk Life), and libero Moon Jung-won (Korea Expressway Corporation) started, but it didn’t work.
They struggled with their opponent’s height and their serve receive was shaky. Coach Gonzalez switched the setter to Yeom Hye-sun (KGC Ginseng) and brought Kang So-hwi (GS Caltex) onto the court in an attempt to turn things around.
However, the USA continued to push forward and the score was 13-23. Korea scored three points in a row on Kim Mi-yeon’s serve and Park Eun-jin’s push attack, but that was as close as they would get in the first set.
The decider would be the second set. Korea got off to a good start, racing to a 9-3 lead thanks to a spike from Pyo Seung-joo and a fastball from Park Eun-jin. The USA started to chase, but Korea pulled away again.
A kill by Jung Ho-young, an attack by Moon Ji-yoon, a direct kill by Park Eun-jin, and a kill by Kim Dain made it 22-15. Korea had a chance to level the set. However, they failed to capitalise. Her attack was blocked and the score narrowed to 23-22.
Later in the set, Jung Ho-young’s spike gave Korea set point at 24-23, but Moon Ji-yoon’s spike went out for deuce. The USA came from behind to take the lead. They smiled at deuce and took the second set.
After dropping a close set, South Korea faltered in the third.
An eight-point deficit midway through the set gave the USA the advantage. Korea will play their fourth match of Week 1 against Thailand on 5 May.
Earlier in the day, Poland defeated Serbia in straight sets 3-0 (25-18 25-22 30-28). In the final match of the day after the Korea-USA match, Turkiye defeated Italy 3-0 (25-19 26-24 25-19).