Kang So Hwi, 23 points..."The strongest in the cup competition"

Kang So Hwi, 23 points "The strongest in the cup competition" GS Caltex beats Hyundai Engineering & Construction and comes first in the finals 

Kang So-hwi (left) of GS Caltex who is trying to spike. Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO)

GS Caltex, the most winning team in the cup competition, is one step closer to winning its sixth career title. 스포츠중계

GS Caltex won 3-1 (23-25 25-23 25-17 25-20) in the semifinals of the 2023 Gumi Dodram Cup Professional Volleyball Tournament at Park Chung-hee Gymnasium in Gumi on the 4th.

GS Caltex, which advanced to the semifinals with second place in Group B, beat Hyundai Engineering & Construction, the No. 1 player in Group A, to reach the final stage. GS Caltex, which has won five times in the cup competition alone and is on the top of the list, will try to win the cup competition for the second consecutive year. The final match will be held on the 5th with the winner of IBK Industrial Bank of Korea and KGC Ginseng Corporation scheduled for 7 p.m. on the same day.

For GS Caltex, Kang So-hwi scored the most points with 23 points (44.19% attack success rate), while Moon Ji-yoon and Yoo Seo-yeon added 14 points. Kwon Min-ji also helped with 11 points. GS Caltex also showed stable performance in offense and defense by catching 11 blocks. Hyundai Engineering & Construction's Jung Ji-yoon scored 18 points and Kim Joo-hyang and Yang Hyo-jin scored 11 points, but failed to block GS Caltex's momentum.

GS Caltex accumulated points as Kang So-hwi's spike in the first set was inserted into Hyundai Engineering & Construction's court. Hyundai Engineering & Construction was spearheaded by Jung Ji-yoon. In the 7-7 situation, Hyundai Engineering & Construction blocked GS Caltex's high-run blocking, and quickly widened the gap with Kim Joo-hyang's consecutive goals and Lee Da-hyun and Kim Da-in's serve ace.

GS Caltex began to close the gap as Choi Eun-ji, who was substituted, succeeded in attacking one after another at a time when the gap was widening by five points. At 18-21, Moon Ji-yoon's quick opening and Kang So-hwi's blocking followed it to a gradual extent, and Moon Ji-yoon succeeded in serving ace to tie the score. However, Hyundai Engineering & Construction won 25-23 in the first set due to a series of attacks by Kang So-hwi and Choi Eun-ji.

At the beginning of the second set, Hyundai Engineering & Construction took the lead first, and GS Caltex suffered bad news. With the team being dragged 5-8, Choi Eun-ji blocked and injured Yang Hyo-jin of Hyundai Engineering & Construction's foot and ankle in the process of landing. Choi was stretchered out of the stadium.

GS Caltex continued its pursuit with a fierce attack even when Choi Eun-ji was missing. If GS Caltex chased, Hyundai Engineering & Construction ran away again throughout the second set. In the 21-21 tie, GS Caltex took the lead with Yoo Seo-yeon's serve ace following Kang So-hwi's attack score. Kang So-hwi finished the last two attacks himself, making GS Caltex tied the set score at 1-1.

It was a one-sided atmosphere of GS Caltex in the third set. Kang So-hwi's one-man show was held at 11-11. Kang So-hwi took the lead by scoring five points, including two blocking points, when the team accumulated seven points in a row. On top of that, the defense has become stronger than the previous set, with five points scored with blocking and 29.41% receiving efficiency. GS Caltex, which overwhelmed offense and defense, won the third set 25-17.

GS Caltex, which won the second and third sets in a row, also resisted Hyundai Engineering & Construction's pursuit in the fourth set. Kwon Min-ji, Yoo Seo-yeon, and Moon Ji-yoon each scored five points, relieving Kang So-hwi's burden. At 24-20, Kim Min-ji finished the game with a serve ace.