Pink Spiders top V League table after beating AI Peppers

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Pink Spiders top V League table after beating AI Peppers

Published: 16 Feb. 2023, 16:03 Updated: 16 Feb. 2023, 17:09

Kim Yeon-koung, center, celebrates with the Incheon Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders squad after scoring a point against the Gwangju AI Peppers at Samsan Gymnasium in Incheon on Wednesday. [NEWS1]

The Incheon Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders snatched the top spot on the V League table from the Suwon Hyundai Engineering & Construction Hillstate after thrashing the last-place Gwangju AI Peppers 3-0 at Samsan Gymnasium in Incheon on Wednesday.

The Pink Spiders topped the table with 63 points for the first time this season. They are now two points above their biggest competitor Hillstate, with both sides having played 28 games as of press time.

On Wednesday, the Incheon side started the game exactly the way they wanted, grabbing the first set 25-17 with ease. They maintained that momentum in the second set and pulled off the set 25-18. With a comfortable lead, the Pink Spiders ultimately marked a victory with 25-19 in the third set.

Korean volleyball royalty Kim Yeon-koung was once again behind her team’s success, as she recorded the most points for her side with 19. She was also named the MVP of Wednesday’s game.

“I feel happy that we finally took the top spot in the fifth round after a long time,” Kim said during a post-match interview. “There are eight games remaining and we will concentrate on retaining the top spot.”

Topping the table is particularly meaningful for the Pink Spiders because the Incheon side were tied on points with Hillstate after they thrashed the Suwon side 3-0 last Thursday, but still could not top the table as they lost 3-1 to the Hwaseong IBK Altos in last Saturday’s game.

“The Altos were in good shape that day and we showed bad performance,” Kim said during the interview. "We felt that we did not prepare well enough for it, so we reflected on that."

The Pink Spiders’ next game is against the GS Caltex Seoul KIXX at Jangchung Arena in Jung District, central Seoul on Sunday.

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