Coach Kang Sung-hyung finishes first in the first half “The last two seasons were also good up to this point. The remaining rounds are more important”
Hyundai E&C finishes the first half of the season in first place.
Hyundai E&C will host Pepper Savings Bank in the final game of the fourth round of the Dodram 2023-2024 V-League Women’s Division at Pepper Stadium in Gwangju on April 19. With a record of 18 wins, 5 losses, and 55 points, Hyundai E&C will finish the first half in first place regardless of the outcome.
With a win, HMC will not only finish the fourth round undefeated, but will also extend its lead over second-place 토토 Heungkuk Life (18 W, 6 D, 50 P).
Hyundai E&C head coach Kang Sung-hyung, who finished the first half in first place, said, “We had a lot of difficult games, but we were able to come this far because we got over the hump. Our team organization and teamwork have improved, which is why we’ve been able to achieve the results we have. I want to praise the players.”
However, the team hasn’t let its guard down. “In the last two seasons, it’s always been good up to this point. The next two rounds are the most important. We need to rest well and recover from the All-Star break and play well in rounds five and six,” he said.
HMC is 3-0 against Pepper Savings Bank this season. However, in their last meeting in the third round, they won in a shutout, but there were some bumps in the road. In the third set, there was a deuce, and HCE was able to take the game 28-26 to win the three points.
Coach Kang Sung-hyung said, “I’m more worried about matches like this. We will try to win, but Pepper Savings Bank will also work hard to end their losing streak. Also, we are playing away from home. They won all three games, but if you look at the content of each set, they showed good offense. I told the players to play with a sense of urgency,” he said.
He added, “It’s relative, but in the three matches, there were highs and lows in each set. I also emphasized to the players that they played well. We didn’t do anything special because we’ve done it three times. I told them that the outcome depends on the number 100. I emphasized the mental aspect because if you slack off, the result can go the other way.”
Sitting at the bottom of the standings with a record of 2 W, 21 L, 7 D, Pepper Savings Bank has lost 16 straight games. If they don’t win tonight’s match, they will lose their 17th consecutive game, tying the franchise record for consecutive losses.
Pepperdine head coach Joe Trinzi said: “We had a short turnaround between our last game and today, so we only had one practice. We didn’t make a lot of changes, but I think the players know what they need to do and I think it will come. I think we’ll start to see it today.”
Pepper Savings Bank has a long way to go, but the libero position is far from perfect. Chae Sun-ah will be the lone libero in the match. Oh Ji-young took the field in the home jersey.
Coach Joe Trinzi said, “Kim Hae-bin will not be able to play due to a wrist injury. Chae Sun-ah will play both outside hitter and defense.”
Who will win the final match of the fourth round?