LIG’s Foreign Volleyballer On a Roll

LIG Property Insurance was helpless against Hyundai Capital in each previous encounter. Since 2005, when the professional volleyball league began, LIG lost all 17 of its regular season matches against Hyundai Capital.

LIG star player Lee Kyung-soo says, “It is strange. Whenever we’re up against Hyundai, the game just falls apart. We may put up a good fight, but we always crumble at the end.”

This year, things have changed. LIG scouted Spanish ace Guillermo Falasca, to balance the left and right offense lines along with Lee Kyung-soo. Former Italian pro-team coach and Iranian national team coach Park Ki-won leads the team, and transformed the team into a speedy volleyball squad.

On the other hand, Hyundai Capital has been substantially weakened. Sean Rooney, who led the team to two consecutive V-League Championships, left the team to join a Russian team. Hyundai also found no replacements after libero Lee Ho retired.

LIG beat Hyundai Capital, 3-1 (26-24, 19-25, 25-23, 25-20) in their home opening game yesterday at Park Jung-hee Gymnasium in Gumi, Gyeongbuk, to grasp their second victory of the season (against one loss). Hyundai has one victory and two losses.

Falasca’s offensive capability was devastating. With 7 back attacks and 3 blocks and service aces, he scored 38 points, along with a triple crown (3 back attacks, blocks, service aces). It was the season’s first triple crown and the league’s 12th overall. Lee Kyung-soo (18 points) and Eom Chang-sup (12 points) jointly scored 30 points.

As for Hyundai Capital, Song In-seok scored 22 points and Lee Sun-kyu added 15 points, but could not overcome the presence of Falasca. Rookie Lim Shi-hyung’s (graduating from Inha University in February) 9 points was all Hyundai could be comforted for. Hyundai coach Kim Ho-chul said, “We can only stick with Korean players like Song In-seok or Hoo In-jung until mid-season. The foreign players will be employed our hidden jokers late in the season.”

Samsung Life Insurance cruised to its third consecutive victory against the Army squad Sangmu 3-1 (20-25, 25-21, 25-14, 25-18) behind Chang Byung-chul’s 21 points.

In the women’s league, Hungkuk Life crushed Korea Highway, 3-1 thanks to Kim Yeon-koung (27 points) and the Brazilian left player (15 points). Han Song-yi scored 27 points for Korea Highway.

beetlez@donga.com