Hanyang Defeated Sungkyunkwan and Proved itself Best in College Volleyball

Hanyang University went up to the top of the College Division of the Super League for two consecutive seasons.

Hanyang University defeated Sungkyunkwan University by the set score of 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-18) at the 3rd game of the College Final of the 2003 Samsung Fire Anicar Volleyball Super League held at the Palma Gymnasium in Soonchon on the 23rd.

With that, Hanyang University, which won the Championship of the last season by defeating Inha University at the final, won the second consecutive College Championship of the Super League.

The final game of the two teams, which played close full set games and shared the 1st and the second game, was surprisingly ended as an easy win for Hanyang University.

The day`s game was decided at the match-up between the main hitters. The main hitter of Hanyang University, Kang, Dong-Jin led the offense of the team with the game high 16 points, but the main hitter of Sungkyunkwan University, Kwak Seung-chol stopped at 9 points. Kwak Seung-chol recorded points in 20`s in prior Games 1st and 2nd.

Hanyang University blocked the opponent`s offense using the twin masts of Shin, Young-Soo (2m2) and Lee Sun-kyu (2m3), and Sungkyunkwan University sought new offense routes, but they were read by Hanyang University all the time. Out of Sungkyunkwan University starters, only Koh Hui-jin (2m) could match up with the height of Hanyang University, but other main hitters` height were only at 1m80’s, so they must suffer from their handicap of height.

Hanyang University, which won the Championship of the all college and club teams participating Presidential Cup, which was the predecessor of the Super League, is the traditional powerhouse of the College Division. It had once faced with a temporary crisis after the main hitter Lee Gyong-soo graduated before last season, but it could win the Championship with good plays of rookies including Shin Young-soo.

The Head Coach of Hanyang University, who took the job before last season and achieved the second consecutive Championship, Shin Choon-sam showed strong confidence by saying, “It was a tough game, but as a result of doing our best, we achieved a good result,” and “with this Championship, the Golden Age of Hanyang University will be continued.”

Won-Hong Lee bluesky@donga.com