V League leaders Hillstate suffer second straight loss

Volleyball

Published: 25 Jan. 2023, 15:09 Updated: 25 Jan. 2023, 15:50

V League leaders Hillstate suffer second straight loss

Yang Hyo-jin, second from right, of Suwon Hyundai Engineering & Construction Hillstate in action during a match against Gimcheon Korea Expressway Corporation Hi-Pass at Gimcheon Gymnasium in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang on Jan. 24. [NEWS1]

Suwon Hyundai Engineering & Construction Hillstate failed to extend their lead in the V League after suffering a 3-1 loss to Gimcheon Korea Expressway Corporation Hi-Pass at Gimcheon Gymnasium in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang on Tuesday.

Hillstate did not look like league leaders on Tuesday, as they conceded a number of points at the beginning of the first set to ultimately lose it 25-21.

The Suwon side could not bounce back in the second set either. There was seemingly a lack of cohesion on both attack and defense, since they conceded multiple points through their own mistakes and failed to block Hi-Pass’s attacks effectively. They eventually lost the set 25-17.

Hillstate had to take the third set in order to stay alive in the match. They managed to pull off the set 25-19 with Yang Hyo-jin and Hwang Min-kyoung showing better teamwork in attack during the final moments to pull off the set win.

The league leaders, however, could not maintain that momentum in the fourth set. They were particularly vulnerable to Katherine Bell, who scored the most points with 20 in the game.

The Suwon side tried to find that breakthrough at 24-20, but could not block Bae Yoo-na’s last attack, ultimately losing the game with a set score of 3-1.

This is Hillstate’s second loss in a row after their last defeat came at the hands of the GS Caltex Seoul Kixx last Friday.

Tuesday’s loss still puts Hillstate at the top of the V League table with 57 points, but they have played one more game than the runner-up Incheon Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders, meaning they might be tied with the Incheon side if the Pink Spiders earn three points in the next fixture.

Hillstate will face the Kixx again at their home stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi next Thursday and will have to bounce back to end their two-game losing streak.

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