Pink Spiders take winning streak to four games

Kim Yeon-koung, left, and Jelena Mladjenovic, right, in action during a V League game against Suwon Hyundai Engineering & Construction Hillstate at Incheon Samsan World Gym in Incheon on Jan. 11. [NEWS1]

The Incheon Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders grabbed their fourth consecutive victory of the season against Gimcheon Korea Expressway Corporation Hi-Pass on Saturday, even with the head coach's seat still empty.

The Pink Spiders beat Hi-Pass with a set score of 3-0 last Saturday at Gimcheon Gymnasium in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang.

The Incheon side’s road to the sweep was not as easy as the final score suggests.

The first set was neck-and-neck until 23-23. The Pink Spiders found that crucial breakthrough, however, with Korean volleyball royalty Kim Yeon-koung and her teammate Kim Mi-yeon scoring two points consecutively to end the set 25-23.

The second set was also not an easy set for the Incheon side as Hi-Pass took the score to 24-24. Jelena Mladjenovic finally scored a point to break the tie and made a block to save the Pink Spiders with 26-24.

The Pink Spiders maintained that momentum in the third set and pulled off a far more comfortable 25-19, ultimately earning three points at the end.

With the win over the Gimcheon side, the Pink Spiders remain unbeaten against Hi-pass this season with four wins in a row.

Mladjenovic was the most notable player of the Incheon side in the match since she recorded the most points for her team with 20 total. She is the third-highest scorer in the V League this season with 552 points so far, surpassing even her teammate Kim Yeon-koung.

Saturday’s win takes the Pink Spiders to 54 points in the league and keeps the gap with league leaders Suwon Hyundai Engineering & Construction Hillstate at three points on the table.

The Incheon team’s victory is surprising considering they have been playing without a head coach since Jan. 1. Their only loss of the year so far came at the hands of Hillstate on Jan. 11.

The Pink Spiders will want to carry the current momentum to their next game against Daejeon Korea Ginseng Corporation on Wednesday at their home stadium in Incheon.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]