GS Caltex lost the set score of 0-3 (23-25 17-25 18-25) at home against Hyundai Engineering & Construction in the third round of the Dodram 2023-2024 V-League at Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul on the 3rd.
GS Caltex failed to continue its upward trend, which overpowered IBK Industrial Bank with a set score of 3-1 (19-25 25-19 25-22 25-20) on the 29th of last month. Although it remained in third place with eight wins and five losses and 22 points for the season, the gap widened with second-place Hyundai Engineering & Construction (9 wins and four losses, 29 points). Heungkuk Life Insurance (11 wins, 1 loss, 30 points) also failed to catch up.
GS Caltex gave fourth-ranked Chung Kwan-kwan (5-8, 17 points) and fifth-ranked IBK Industrial Bank (6-7, 16 points) room to chase, putting it in a position to worry about the third-place performance rather than jumping to the lead in the third round.
GS Caltex had difficulty accumulating points at every match as Zupo Silva scored 16 points, had an attack share of 39.42% and an attack success rate of 36.59%. Kang So-hwi fought hard with 12 points, 21.15% of the attack share, and 54.55% of the attack success rate, but failed to overcome the wall of Hyundai Engineering & Construction.
In an official interview after the game, GS Caltex coach Cha Sang-hyun said, “We had a bad sub-reception and the damage was huge here,” adding, “Overall, setter Kim Ji-won was also shaken, failing to take advantage of our attack.”
GS Caltex had a bad start on the day. At the beginning of the first set against 6-6, Hyundai Engineering & Construction’s Moma and Yang Hyo-jin failed to prevent firepower, so they lost the lead. The gap widened to 10-17 midway through the first set, handing over the flow.
GS Caltex chased 23-24 at the end of the first set as Kang So-hwi and Silva showed off their good conditions, but that was it. Hyundai Engineering & Construction donated the first set 23-25 to Hyundai Engineering & Construction because it failed to prevent Hyundai Engineering & Construction’s open attack.
The second set was more disastrous. Silva scored five points, had an attack share of 43.33% and an attack success rate of 38.46%, so the attack was not carried out smoothly. Kang So-hwi also scored two points and showed difficulty with 28.57% of the attack success rate, making the game difficult.
GS Caltex, whose momentum was completely broken, completely collapsed in the third set. The score at the beginning of the third set was 2-10, losing the momentum to chase. He narrowed the gap to 19-24 at the end of the third set, but it was not enough to turn the game around.
GS Caltex decided that it would be difficult to go beyond the height that Hyundai Engineering & Construction boasted, so it set up a strategy to shake the receiving, but their receiving was shaken by shouting. Both offense and defense suffered inexcusable losses as they were thoroughly pushed back by Hyundai Engineering & Construction. He was so lethargic in front of 3,227 spectators who visited the stadium.
Cha Sang-hyun said, “Overall, it was an embarrassing performance. I think I should organize it with the players, he said. “Damage accumulated from the first set in the sub-reception.” “It was a serve strength that we could get well enough, but I kept shaking because I couldn’t catch it,” he expressed regret.
“Many spectators came to the stadium today, so we shouldn’t play like this. Me and the players should reflect on themselves. “It’s a little embarrassing to say that there are a lot of games and fatigue accumulated,” he reiterated.
It also recognized Hyundai Engineering & Construction’s potential. Hyundai Engineering & Construction’s position is that it has become a more difficult team to deal with than before as the main gun Moma, which is certain of its existing strength, finds its skills.
Manager Cha Sang-hyun said, “Hyundai Construction’s height is really high. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t played volleyball, but when it starts to fall behind from high, the pressure on the court is really high, he said. “Today, I was trying to get the flow to our side, but I was blocked by Hyundai Engineering & Construction.” This is not easy. Hyundai Engineering & Construction is a team with a good libero, setter, and striker, so it is a burdensome opponent for us,” he explained.