After the simultaneous replacement of the director and general manager in the middle of the season, there were many prospects of being eliminated from the leading competition due to a series of
internal conflicts and the long-term acting manager system, but Kim Yeon-kyung united and leaping forward again IBK won 3 to 0 and took the top spot with the power of ‘World Star’ Grab grades and box office New Year’s Day Last business day, January 2nd. Heungkuk Life Insurance, second in women’s volleyball, announced the simultaneous replacement of manager Kwon Soon-chan and general manager Kim Yeo-il. It was an unexpected internal variable that occurred while closely chasing the leading Hyundai Engineering & Construction (45 points, 16 wins and 2 losses) by accumulating 42 points (14 wins and 4 losses) by this time after the third round. Heungkuk Life Insurance became even stronger after a long confusion. Heungkuk Life Insurance overcame the storm after the manager change and took first place in the regular league after 4 years. Heungkuk Life Insurance won with a set score of 3-0 (25-15 25-13 25-16) in an away match against IBK Industrial Bank of the 2022-2023 professional volleyball women’s V-League held at Hwaseong General Gymnasium on the 15th. Heungkuk Life Insurance confirmed 1st place in the league regardless of the result of the remaining game with 26 wins and 9 losses and 79 points. It is a thrilling reversal story written by Heungkuk Life Insurance, who stayed in 6th place last season.

The driving force behind taking first place in the league was the fighting spirit of ‘middle, break, and horse (the important thing is unbreakable mind)’ shown by Korean football, which advanced to the round of 16 at the 2022 Qatar World Cup스포츠토토. After head coach Kwon Sun-chan was sacked, head coach Lee Young-soo left the team after serving as acting coach for only one game. Kim Ki-joong, the head coach of Sunseon Girls’ High School, who was appointed as the new head coach, declined the post due to negative public opinion. Afterwards, coach Kim Dae-kyung led the team as acting coach, and as the situation prolonged due to amateur-like probation, there were many prospects that they would be eliminated from the leading competition.

However, Heungkuk Life Insurance, which was tightly united around veterans Kim Yeon-kyung and Kim Hae-ran, was not shaken. Middle blocker Lee Joo-ah grew up and contributed to the overwhelming firepower of ‘tall twin guns’ Kim Yeon-kyung and Elena Mrazenovic. Recruiting setter Lee Won-jung from GS Caltex during the season was also a godsend.

Heungkuk Life Insurance jumped to the top from the 5th round, when the momentum of Hyundai E&C was weakened. From last month, they recruited Italian coach Marcello Abondanza to put their strength into the last minute spurt. Coach Abondanza, who had the upper hand in the fierce competition for the lead, said, “I will confirm the first place today” prior to the match that left one point to confirm the league’s first place. If the victory points were not added, there was a possibility that the winning team would change in the final game against Hyundai E&C, which will be held at home on the 19th. Head coach Abondanza said, “It feels good to be first in the league, but there are still interesting challenges ahead. He will run towards the next goal,” he said. Heungkuk Life Insurance, who won a direct ticket to the championship match, challenges to win the 5th championship in the history of the club in 4 seasons.

Heungkuk Life Insurance captured both performance and box office success with Kim Yeon-kyung, who returned to the V-League after two years. The Heungkuk Life Insurance game played by the ‘World Star’ attracted many fans, both home and away. This season, women’s volleyball sold out a total of 18 times, of which 16 (12 away) matches were played by Heungkuk Life Insurance. Heungkuk Life Insurance repaid the passionate support of enthusiastic fans regardless of location and opponent with ‘No. 1 in the regular league’. Kim Yeon-kyung, who took first place in the V-League after 15 seasons since the 2007-2008 season before advancing to the overseas stage, said, “It was a long season with a lot of difficult times, but it feels good to finish in first place in the league. All the players came together well and were able to overcome the difficult times well,” he said. “I want to prepare well and finish with good results.”