Hyundai E&C defeats GS Caltex in a close match.
Hyundai E&C won the home match of the Dodram 2023-2024 V-League Women’s Division against GS Caltex 3-2 (30-28 21-25 25-16 17-25 19-17) at Suwon Indoor Gymnasium on Tuesday.
With its fourth straight win, Hyundai E&C maintained its lead at 17-5 (52 points). They have the same record as second-place Heungkuk Life (17-5, 47 points), but are five points ahead in the standings.
GS Caltex, which has lost two straight games, is in third place with a 13-9 record (38 points).
Hyundai E&C’s Yang Hyo-jin led the way with 25 points, while Moma scored 24. Jeong Ji-yoon added 14 points and Wipawi 11.
GS Caltex had 36 points from Silva, 17 from Kang So-hwi, and 12 from Kwon Min-ji, but were unfortunate to lose both deuce battles.
Hyundai E&C got off to a good start in the first set, taking a 13-7 lead thanks to kills from Jeong Ji-yoon and Moma, but GS Caltex started to pull away thanks to a block from Han Su-ji and back-to-back service aces from Silva. It was a game of two halves, with Hyundai E&C running away and GS Caltex catching up.
Eventually, the two teams entered the deuce game from the first set. Even after entering the deuce, the two teams could not easily choose a winner. However, it was Hyundai E&C that was more focused and took control at 28-28 with back-to-back points from Moma and Yang Hyo-jin to make it 30-28.
GS Caltex fought back in the second set. They were down 14-15 midway through the set, but back-to-back kills from Kang So-hwi and Moma turned the tide in their favor, taking a 19-15 lead. After regrouping, Hyundai E&C tied the set at 21-21, but GS Caltex responded with back-to-back points from Kang So-hwi to take the second set 25-21.
A third set at home. This time, Hyundai E&C came out strong again. Moma’s attack and opponent’s errors set the tone as they piled up points. With Yang Hyo-jin and Kim Joo-hyang joining in on the scoring, HCE maintained a comfortable lead throughout the third set and won the third set 25-16.
Backed into a corner, GS Caltex didn’t back down easily. GS Caltex jumped out to a 9-4 lead in the fourth set with kills from Silva and Han Su-ji. Despite Hyundai E&C’s attempts to fight back, GS Caltex maintained a large lead and took the fourth set. In the end, GS Caltex won the fourth set 25-17, sending the match to a fifth set.
Fateful fifth set. The fifth set was no easier for either team. It was a back-and-forth battle throughout the set, and the teams once again went into a deuce battle after the first set.
In the end, it was Hyundai E&C who had the last laugh, as they earned match point at 17-17 with an open attack from Jung Ji-yoon. Lee then blocked Silva’s attack to close out the fifth set at 19-17. The match ended with Hyundai E&C winning the set 3-2.