Samsung Fire reclaims second place a day after sweeping OK Financial Group.
Samsung Fire earned a 3-0 (25-22 25-22 25-21) shutout victory over OK Financial Group in straight sets in the men’s home leg of the Dodram 2023-2024 V-League at Chungmu Gymnasium in Daejeon on Friday.
Samsung Fire (28 points, 9-6), which dropped to third place when Korean Air (28 points, 9-6) defeated Korea Electric Power on Nov. 13, regained the second spot it had surrendered for two days with the win. The two teams are now tied on points, but Samsung Fire’s lead in the standings allows them to move into second place.
The man of the match in the Samsung Fire’s shutout victory was foreign big man Yosubani. On the day, Yosubani scored 28 points and wreaked havoc on the OK Financial Group defense with a whopping 60.98% attack success rate.
With the score tied at 19-20 in the closing minutes of the first set, Samsung Fire tied the score with a quick opener from Kim Jung-ho, and then Yosubani followed up with a quick opener after a long rally and a strong serve to end the set at 24-22.
After the first set, OK Financial Group lost energy and self-destructed with unforced errors. OK Financial Group continued to fight hard in the second set and tried to tie the match, but with a one-point deficit at 22-23, Leo’s follow-up attack went out of bounds.
Samsung Fire looked to be on their way to an easy victory in the decisive third set with a 20-14 lead, but a last-ditch effort by OK Financial Group quickly tied the score at 21-21.
However, the upset was not to be. Samsung Hajae turned the tide when Shin Shin-ho blocked a follow-up attack from opposing ace Leo, but once again, Yosubani’s powerful attack caught fire and the game was over.
In defeat, OK Financial Group could only manage 15 points as Leo was blocked by his opponent’s concentration, and they were unable to climb out of fifth place as they suffered their fourth straight loss.
Meanwhile, on the women’s side, GS Caltex has won two consecutive matches to close the gap on ‘second place’ Heungkuk Life and Hyundai E&C.
GS Caltex swept the away match against Pepper Savings Bank 3-0 (25-23 25-23 25-15) at Pepper Stadium in Gwangju.
GS Caltex battled Pepper Savings Bank in full-set matches in the first two rounds and evened the series at 1-1, but the team was able to regain the upper hand with the win in the third round.
Third-place GS Caltex, which picked up three points, is closing the gap at the top of the standings with 28 points (10 W, 6 L).
Currently in first and second place are No. 1 Heungkuk Life (13W-2L) and No. 2 Hyundai E&C (11W-4L), both with 35 points. GS Caltex is only seven points behind them, so the win against Pepper Savings Bank paves the way for them to knock on the door of the leaders.