Kang Sung-hyung, head coach of Hyundai Engineering & Construction in women’s professional volleyball, expressed trust, saying he will overcome the team’s main setter Kim Da-in (25). “I have suffered too many losses in the women’s national team, and I am struggling mentally and physically,” Kang said. “It is a process of growing up. It is not that (Dain) failed.”
Hyundai Engineering & Construction won the set score 3-1 (28-26 24-26 25-21 25-16) in the second round of the women’s team of the Dodram V League in the 2023-24 season at Suwon Indoor Gymnasium on the 9th.
Hyundai Engineering & Construction, which recently ended its two-game losing streak, ranked third with four wins and three losses (13 points), beating Jeong Kwan-jang (11 points) to fourth place. It has the same points as second-place GS Caltex (13, 5 wins and 1 loss), but it falls behind in multiple wins.
Hyundai Engineering & Construction’s Moma Vasoko (registered name Moma) led the attack with 29 points, while Yang Hyo-jin and Jung Ji-yoon helped each other with 14 points.
Manager Kang Sung-hyung, who was worried about the somewhat depressed team atmosphere before the game, fortunately grabbed Jeong Kwan-jang and regained his smile.
Despite the victory, Kang still expressed regret. In particular, Kim Da-in, the main setter, expressed his concern, saying that he was struggling.
Director Kang Sung-hyung said, “Last year, it was Kim Da-in or Lee.”I felt like Hyun learned well from the national team, he said. “I don’t want to talk about this, but I’m having a hard time mentally.” I hope you can overcome it yourself, he said.
“The setter is a position that leads the team, so I lost a lot (in the national team) and suffered a lot,” he said. “As I keep on going, I think I have a bad idea.”
Kim Da-in, who won the Best 7 Setter Award for two consecutive seasons in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, has been running nonstop this year.
She became the main setter for the women’s national volleyball team, but failed to smile due to her poor team performance.
The Korean women’s volleyball team was heavily sluggish this year, including all losses in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL), elimination from the semifinals of the Asian Championship, and no medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
As the team’s performance was so bad that there were much more games lost than the winning games, Kim Da-in naturally seemed to feel a psychological burden.
Coach Kang said, “Since I play a game that loses a lot, I’ve heard a lot of criticism from fans, so it’s a trauma…”I bit my lips.
The head coach encouraged Kim Da-in to overcome the current difficulties more courageously.
Coach Kang said, “It’s a process of growing up, not a failure,” adding, “No matter who went, I would have had a difficult game in the national team.” He said, “I think I’m under pressure from bad memories, but I believe I’ll overcome them well.”
Teammate Jung Ji-yoon also vowed to cheer up more with his teammates who have been to the national team, including Kim Da-in, Lee Da-hyun and Kim Yeon-kyeon.
Jung Ji-yoon said, “As I continued to lose, I felt that I was under a lot of stress and lost confidence (in the national team),” adding, “It had an impact on the season.” He looked mentally exhausted. Still, I can see him trying to overcome it.”
“When Dahyun or Dain’s sister is having a hard time, it’s a good experience to be there,” he said. Other players encouraged him, saying, “Even if I want to go, I can’t go.” He also told me not to think about it in a hurry. Thanks to you, I was able to cheer up. “I’m not 100% sure yet, but I’ll take responsibility and quickly improve my condition,” he said.