Hi-Pass hold off Pink Spiders to stay alive in V League championship

Volleyball

Published: 03 Apr. 2023, 18:01 Updated: 07 Apr. 2023, 12:20

Hi-Pass hold off Pink Spiders to stay alive in V League championship

Gimcheon Korea Expressway Hi-Pass's Park Jeong-ah, center, reacts after her side scores a point during the third leg of the 2022-23 V League championship against the Incheon Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders at Gimcheon Gymnasium in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang on Sunday. [NEWS1]

Gimcheon Korea Expressway Hi-Pass held off the Incheon Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders with a 3-1 victory in the third leg of the five-game of the 2022-23 V League championship series on Sunday, leaving the series score at 2-1 with the Pink Spiders just one win away from the title.

The Pink Spiders reached the championship after winning the league, while Hi-Pass, who finished in third place, advanced to the series after beating Suwon Hyundai Engineering & Construction Hillstate twice in the three-game playoffs.

Hi-Pass had to win Sunday’s game to stay alive in the championship, since they had lost the first and second leg.

The Gimcheon side were off to a shaky start, however, losing the first set 25-22.

They bounced back in the second set, displaying a solid performance to win the set 25-21.

Hi-Pass then maintained that momentum in the third set, grabbing the set 25-22.

Their attacks led by Park Jeong-ah and Khat Bell were cohesive and dominated the fourth set. Bell scored the team’s last point to win the set 25-20, ultimately locking in her side’s 3-1 victory to remain in the championship.

Pink Spiders’ ace Kim Yeon-koung was as formidable as she has been throughout this season, scoring 22 points in Sunday’s game, second only to top scorer Park's 24.

“I think I was able to gain strength thanks to the fans cheering us and the cheering song,” Park said after the game. “We will work hard to win the next game and go to Incheon.”

The last and only time Hi-Pass won the championship was 2018, when they also took the league title.

The Pink Spiders, on the other hand, have been crowned champion four times, with their latest title in 2019, when they beat Hi-Pass three times in the championship series to win the ultimate title.

The fourth leg will take place at Gimcheon Gymnasium in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang on Tuesday.

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