Korea drop first game at Volleyball Nations League

Volleyball

Published: 26 May. 2021, 16:22

Korea drop first game at Volleyball Nations League

The Korean national volleyball team left for Rimini, Italy on May 20, where the Volleyball Nations League is taking place. [KOREA VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION]

Korea’s national volleyball team lost their first game of the 2021 Women’s Volleyball Nations League 3-1 against reigning Olympic Champion China in Rimini, Italy on Tuesday.

Korea started the first set strong, as Kim Da-in opened the scoring with an ace serve while captain Kim Yeon-koung’s blocking skills and Lee So-young’s attacks put the team ahead 7-2. But China was quick to comeback, trailing Korea by just one point when Lee’s attack won the first set.

Despite taking the first set 25-23, Korea conceded the next three, losing 3-1.

Kim Yeon-koung [VOLLEYBALL NATIONS LEAGUE]

Lee contributed the team’s best 16 points while Kim Yeon-koung added 14.

Sixteen countries play in groups of four for five weeks, playing three games every week at the Volleyball Nations League. The top four teams advance to the semifinals to determine the two who will face off in the title match.

Team Korea will look for their first win against Thailand today, and will face Japan on Thursday.

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]