Hyundai Capital Wins, Stays in First

Hyundai Capital stayed on top in the Korean pro volleyball league after defeating its rival, the Samsung Fire yesterday.

Hyundai Capital came out on top, 3-1 (25-21 18-25 25-19 25-21) at Cheonan Ryu Gwan-sun Gymnasium.

Hyundai Capital’s record improved to 9-1 with the win, while the Samsung Fire remained in second place with a mark of 7-2. Sean Rooney led the way for Hyundai with 18 points. Hu In-jeong added 15 points.

The Samsung Fire’s Shin Seon-ho and Lee Hyeong-du each scored 14 points.

Hyundai Capital seized the initiative in the first set, helped by aerial strikes from Hu In-jeong and Rooney. Hyundai Capital won the set after taking a 15-11 lead thanks to successful attacks from Hu, Rooney, and Jang Yeong-gi.

But Hyundai dropped set two after falling behind 6-11, thanks to the play of Samsung’s Jang Byeong-cheol and Shin Jin-shik.

In the showdown that was set three, Hyundai Capital trailed Samsung, 2-4, but soon caught up owing to Lee Seon-gyu and Rooney’s successful attacks, and finally came back to take a 10-7 lead, helped by Rooney and Jang Yeong-gi’s attacks and a host of Samsung errors.

Hu In-jeong, Rooney, and Lee Seon-gyu kept up the pressure for Hyundai and gave their team a 22-16 lead. Hyundai then fought off Samsung in set four to take the match, 3-1.

At Park Jeong-hi Gymnasium in Gumi, the amateur invitee Korean Electric scored a come from behind victory over LG Fire after giving away two prior sets. The other amateur invitee Sangmu beat KAL by 3-2(25-21 19-25 19-25 25-22 15-10) in Masan, making sure the day belonged to amateurs.

Won-Hong Lee bluesky@donga.com