Hyundai E&C leapfrogged to the top of the standings with a seven-game winning streak thanks to a combination of middle blocker height and side attacker firepower.
Hyundai E&C defeated Pepper Savings Bank in straight sets 3-0 (25-17 25-23 28-26) in their home match of the Professional Volleyball Dodram 2023-2024 V League Women’s Division at Suwon Gymnasium on Wednesday.
Extending their winning streak to seven matches, which began on Nov. 16 against IBK, Hyundai E&C moved into first place with 35 points (11-4), ahead of Heungkuk Life (33-12-2), who have played one match less.
Meanwhile, last-place Pepper Savings Bank (W6-2, L13) fell to an eight-game losing streak.
Hyundai E&C was led by Leticia Moma Basoko (registered name Moma) with 20 points, Wipawi Sithong (registered name Wipawi) with 10 points and Jeong Ji-yoon with six points.
They also won the height battle as Yang Hyo-jin had 13 points, including three blocked shots, and Lee Da-hyun had eight points, including four blocked shots.
Hyundai E&C outscored Pepper Savings Bank 14-3 in blocking points.
Yasmin Bedardt (real name Yasmin) led the way with 26 points, but with Park Jung-ah playing with a sore shoulder and scoring just five points, Pepper Savings Bank was unable to end its losing streak.
At 2-1 in the first set, Hyundai E&C broke its opponent’s spirit when Yang Hyo-jin blocked Yasmin’s open attack.
At 11-9, Yang Hyo-jin scored on a fastball and immediately blocked Park Jung-ah’s open attack.
In the rally, Yang’s open attack was followed by a service ace from Kim Dain to give HMC a 15-9 lead and seal the win.
Yang Hyo-jin scored seven points in the first set, including three blocking points.
After a slow start in the first set, HCE’s wing attackers came alive in the second set.
Desperate to end the losing streak, Pepper Savings Bank fought hard in the second and third sets.
However, it was Hyundai E&C who had the last laugh.
At 22-22 in the second set, Hyundai E&C broke the balance with an open attack by Moma.
Jeong Jeong-yoon then blocked Lee Han-bi’s open attack to earn set point.
Jeong made an attack error at 24-22, but recovered with a quick opener at 24-23 to end the second set.
In the third set, Pepper Savings Bank had the first set point at 24-23.
Libero Oh Ji-young picked up Jung’s quick opener, giving the team a chance to clinch the third set.
However, Lee Han-bi’s open attack went out of the line without reaching the blocker’s hands, giving the team a 24-24 deuce.
After surviving the crisis, Hyundai E&C took the lead at 26-26 when Kim Dain blocked Park Eun-seo’s open attack, and after a rally, Wipawi made a quick opener to seal the match. 슬롯게이밍