Asia Quarter libero Ryohei Iga (29), the core of KEPCO’s defense, will take a short break due to injury.KEPCO coach Kwon Young-min said that ahead of the 2023-2024 professional volleyball men’s home game against Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance to be held at Suwon Gymnasium in Gyeonggi-do on the 11th, Ryohei injured his right hamstring (muscle behind the thigh) while playing defense in the game against OK Financial Group (on the 6th). “I will miss today’s game for player protection reasons,” he said.The injury is not serious.Coach Kwon said, “It’s not a torn muscle. However, if you overdo it, it could ruin your season, so we’re going to give him about two games of rest.”
Ryohei is showing off his best defense this season, ranking 3rd in receiving efficiency (50.26%) and 2nd in digs (2.7 per set). KEPCO, which suffered from severe sluggishness at the beginning of the season, succeeded in chasing mid-tier rankings using its solid defense led by Ryohei as a stepping stone.KEPCO, ranked 6th, has 10 wins, 11 losses, and 29 points, so if it wins today’s game, it will rise to 5th place, and can chase down 4th place OK Financial Group (12 wins, 10 losses, 33 points) by one point.Coach Kwon Young-min said, “It is a difficult situation, 슬롯게이밍 but we will definitely win today’s game,” and added, “Jang Ji-won will replace Ryohei as the starting libero.”