The Korea Women’s National Team suffered their third consecutive defeat at the FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2023 without winning a set.
The women’s national team (ranked 25th in the world), coached by Cesar Gonzalez, fell to the United States (ranked fourth) by a set score of 0-3 (16-25 25-27 11-25) in their third match of VNL Week 1 at the Antalya Sports Hall in Antalya, Turkey, on Thursday morning.
The Koreans failed to win a set against the USA, as well as Turkiye and Canada.
The team struggled against the USA, who were missing their top players, but they also saw small signs of improvement.
South Korea will play their final match of Week 1 against Thailand on 4 April at 8pm at the same venue.
Thanks to back-to-back goals at the end of the first set, South Korea matched the USA in points earned on offence, 11-12, but lost the set due to being out-blocked (1-6) and committing seven unforced errors, three more than the USA. 안전놀이터
The decider was the second set.
While the USA’s serve receive and defence were shaky, Korea opened up an early lead with a fast ball from Jung Ho-young (KGC Ginseng Corporation), a touchout from Moon Ji-yoon (GS Caltex) and a clever streak from Pyo Seung-joo (IBK).
A block by Kim Mi-yeon (Heungkuk Life) and an errant pass to the paint by setter Kim Da-in (Hyundai E&C) gave Korea a 22-15 lead and it looked like they would finally take their first set of the tournament.
However, the USA kept Korea at bay with their hitting and blocking.
A quick attack by Kang So-hwi (GS Caltex) was blocked to make it 23-23, and the teams went to deuce.
The USA took a 26-25 set point with a height-advantageous move and then blocked Park Eun-jin’s (KGC Ginseng Corporation) right-side fastball to take the second set.
Korea started the third set well, racing to a 7-10 lead, but a block and a quick open attack and service ace left them down 7-14.
South Korea was lopsided in blocking, going 3-15, and 0-5 in service aces.
Pyo Seung-ju led the way with 11 kills, while Jung Ho-young and Kim Mi-yeon added seven apiece.