If I don’t have my influence, it’s a lie to be honest.
” It was a shutout victory with a score of 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-16).
Previously, Heungkuk Life Insurance confirmed first place in the regular league by winning the first set (25-15) and the second set (25-13). And he tasted the sweet fruits of going directly to the championship game by winning by 9 points without difficulty until the 3rd set. Kim Yeon-kyung scored 23 points and Yelena scored 19 points.
Heungkuk Life Insurance only finished 6th in the previous season (accumulated 31 points) due to major power departures and rebuilding. And when Kim Yeon-kyung returned to the team after a year, they started competing for the lead from the beginning of the season. The team lifted the trophy for first place in the regular league four years after the 2018-19 season, and Kim Yeon-kyung lifted the trophy in the domestic league for the first time in about 15 years.
This is Kim Yeon-kyung’s second return to Korea. After joining Heungkuk Life Insurance as a professional in the 2005-06 season, he played an active role until 2009, and by 2020 he raised his status as a world ace by crossing leagues in Japan, China and Turkey. After that, he returned after 11 years, but went to the overseas league again after one season. After playing an active part in the Chinese league, in July of last year, he announced his return to Heungkuk Life Insurance.
The season started with a crowd of 10,000 spectators like a cloud, but it was not smooth sailing. In the middle of the season, former manager Kwon Soon-chan’s sudden hardship and the club’s intervention suffered a stir. To make matters worse, former head coach Lee Young-soo, who was in charge of the acting manager, also resigned within a day, and the repercussions grew. Nevertheless, the team worked together and overcame the difficulties. Setter Lee Won-jeong, who was recruited by former manager Kwon, added vitality to the team.
After a long directorial hiatus, Italian master director Abondanza was appointed as the new director, and he reunited with his former pupil, ‘YAKI’ Kim Yeon-kyung. The special narrative gave strength to the run for first place. It flowed like a drawn-out beginning-development-crisis-end.
Kim Yeon-kyung, whom I met after lifting the regular league trophy in ‘A stranger’s home’, said, “I’m happy to finish the long season well. There were many difficult moments, but the players came together well and overcame it.” Kim Hae-ran, who was also present, also shared the joy, saying, “I didn’t think of winning first place in the regular league when I started, but I thought I could do it.”
Before the season started, Kim Yeon-kyung said in an interview, “I’m looking forward to how far this team (Heungkuk Life Insurance) will go.” He also set a goal of around 20 wins, saying, “It’s hard to significantly increase the team ranking that was 6th,”스포츠토토 but he didn’t really have 1st place in the regular league in mind. However, as I burned my fighting spirit to win game by game, my grades naturally followed.
Of course, because of Kim Yeon-kyung, Heungkuk Life Insurance, which was the weakest after the new Pepper Savings Bank last season, was immediately selected as a candidate for the championship. The opposing team’s coaches were all wary of the ‘Kim Yeon-kyung effect’. He must be aware of the enormous influence he exerts. When asked about this, Kim Yeon-kyung’s expression brightened a little.
“Honestly, if you say you have no influence, you’re lying.” The playful answer was followed by gratitude to his teammates once again.
Next, Kim Yeon-kyung said, “(Haeran) sister also talked about it, but there was a question that we could win first place. Even though we did well in the beginning, I thought there would definitely be difficulties.” , I have a lot of time to spare until the championship match, so it is advantageous to prepare for only one team.”
He did not forget to express his gratitude to the members and staff who went through difficult times together. Kim Hae-ran, who first expressed his gratitude to the team, said, “I am most grateful to (Kim) Yeon-kyung. It must have been difficult, but he endured and led me well.” After watching it, the players and I tried to cheer up.”
After the first place was confirmed, thanks to former manager Kwon, who is not currently on the team, became a hot topic. Through her merit interview, Kim Yeon-kyung once again said, “I am also grateful to coach Kwon Soon-chan because it was a good momentum from the off-season to the beginning of the season.”
Heungkuk Life Insurance, with Kim Yeon-kyung’s return, is already predicting an all-time championship match. Whether it’s in terms of spectators or the content of the match, we’re trying to renew the best match of the season once again.
There is only one regular season game remaining. A preview match against Hyundai Engineering & Construction, which placed second, is predicted. The match will be held on the 19th (Sun) at 4:00 pm at Samsan Gymnasium in Incheon, the home stadium of Heungkuk Life Insurance.
Afterwards, Heungkuk Life Insurance will face off against the playoff winner in the championship match to be held from the 29th.