Lee Yun-jeong’s injury variable’ Korea Expressway Corporation vs. ‘Opening match without Kim Hae-ran’ Heungkuk Life Insurance

njuries emerged as a variable even before the opening game. 'Defending champion' Korea Expressway Corporation and Heungkuk Life Insurance, which ranked first in the regular league last season, will participate in the opening match of the Dodram 2023-2024 V-League women's division. The two teams will start the game at Gimcheon Indoor Stadium at 4 p.m. on the 14th. The home team, Korea Expressway Corporation, had many changes to its players this season. This is the result of the transfer of free agents Park Jeong-ah and Chung Dae-young. Additionally, the foreign player was replaced by Vanja Bukiric (Serbia). Here, Thanacha Suk Sot (Thailand) joined the Asia Quarter. Another check point is that Ko Ui-jeong and Park Eun-ji became members of the team through a trade. In addition, the team formed a new combination by recruiting middle blocker Kim Se-bin as the first pick in the rookie draft. Korea Expressway Corporation, which shows a tendency not to collapse after 'defense and then counterattack', maintained the basic structure with libero Myung-ok Myung, opposition spiker Jeong-won Moon, middle blocker Bae Yu-na and setter Lee Yun-jeong. It is clear that if the combination with new players goes well, it is a force that can knock on the top once again. However, variables arose even before the opening. Starting setter Lee Yun-jeong showed symptoms of a knee injury during training on the 11th, three days before the opening game. As a result of the detailed diagnostic test, the road construction company had to rest for a certain period of time, so 'minimizing Lee Yun-jeong's gap' became the biggest task at the beginning of the season. If Lee Yoon-jeong cannot step forward, Park Eun-ji will be in charge of the road construction. Park Eun-ji had not yet adapted to the team during the training camp in Japan, but she was gradually getting along with it afterward. It has become important to manage the game with a sense of responsibility, not only today's game but also before Lee Yun-jeong's return. The road construction team puts Banya Bukiric’s powerful attack power at the forefront. Bukirich's most powerful attack comes from Apogee Spiker. However, Thanacha Suksot also played as an apothecary spiker for the Thailand national team. Moon Jeong-won is also an Apogee Spiker. It became important for coach Kim Jong-min to derive the most efficient power through traffic control in this area. Rookie players, including Kim Se-bin, will not be able to play today due to participation in the National Sports Festival. Yuna Bae and Ga-eun Choi will play middle blockers. The rivalry between wing spiker Jeon Sae-yan and transfer student Ko Ui-jeong is also something to see. In response, Heungkuk Life Insurance strengthened its power by adding middle blocker Kim Su-ji, who was recruited as a free agent, to its powerful strength last season. Heungkuk Life Insurance maintained its core strength by retaining internal free agent Kim Yeon-kyung. Foreign player Jelena also goes as is. These two players are the backbone of the team. Creating a system that can utilize the offensive power of these two is a big task. This season, Coach Abondanza is expected to nominate Kim Yeon-kyung and Jelena as outside hitters, and send one of Kim Mi-yeon and Reina Tokoku (Japan) to the Apogee Spiker position. The system is such that a player who takes the position of an opponent participates in receiving. As for middle blocker, Kim Chae-yeon is currently in the best condition. He has been training steadily in the off-season and is currently in excellent condition. Lee Joo-ah is in the process of improving her condition after attending the national team. Kim Su-ji is also warming up and preparing to enter the game. It is highly likely that three people will be evenly appointed. Da-sol Kim and Won-jeong Lee are responsible for the setter. There are opinions that it is a step forward compared to last season. Confirmation is needed through the game. Libero did not accompany the team's key player Kim Hae-ran on the trip to Gimcheon due to his poor health. Do Soo-bin, who renewed his contract as a free agent, must take responsibility. It remains to be seen how this will affect performance in the fighting and dig ranges. The match between the two teams is noteworthy because it will be held again after the last championship match. Amid injury variables, Korea Expressway Corporation, which is forming a new combination, and Heungkuk Life Insurance, which is playing upgraded versions of existing players, will announce the season of volleyball to fans through the opening match.