V League's oldest player Jung Dae-young has still got plenty of steam

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V League's oldest player Jung Dae-young has still got plenty of steam

Published: 16 Nov. 2023, 11:22

PAIK JI-HWAN
paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr

The GS Caltex Seoul Kixx's Jung Dae-young celebrates during a V League game against Suwon Hyundai Engineering & Construction Hillstate at the Jangchung Arena in central Seoul on Nov. 3. [KOREA VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION]

Veteran middle blocker Jung Dae-young, 42, is the oldest player in the women's V League. But her time on the court isn't up yet.

Jung is back with the GS Caltex Seoul Kixx as a free agent after leaving the capital club in 2014. Her return is poised to bring the team more quality and stability this season as her stats suggest that she remains a force against younger players in the league.

During a game against last year's regular season runners-up Suwon Hyundai Engineering & Construction Hillstate on Nov. 3, Jung effectively blocked Yang Hyo-jin’s attack and scored multiple aces that allowed the Kixx to grab a perfect 3-0 win.

"Our foremost objective was to block Yang’s attacks and Jung managed it well with her experience," Kixx head coach Cha Sang-hyun, who rarely praises his players, said after the game.

Jung’s defensive prowess has long proved effective on the court. It's what she brought to Gimcheon Korea Expressway Hi-Pass, where she played from 2014 through April this year, during which the team won the championship twice.

This year. Jung’s presence has continued to be impactful both on and off the court.

The Kixx squad consists mostly of players in their 20s, but Jung has helped stabilize the team's defense, handing the club a solid run so far this season. The Kixx so far have notched six wins in eight games and sit in second place on the seven-team table as of Nov. 15.

Jung's experience returning to the pitch after giving birth to a child has also helped teammate Gyselle Silva, one of the top scorers in the V League, who also has a daughter.

"[Jung] helped me a lot to adapt," Silva said during an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo in November. “We discussed not just things about volleyball, but also about what we worry about as mothers.”

Jung gave birth to her daughter in 2010 and continued her volleyball career.

Both Silva and I returned to the court after giving birth to a child,” Jung said. “It was tough for me when my daughter Bo-min was [Silva's] daughter's age. I didn’t have much time to spend with her when I left for exercise, so I chatted with her a lot. I told her it would be a memory to remember someday.

"I also advised [Silva] what exercises she should do to heal our knees as both of our knees hurt. I told her that she should focus on extra exercise as we have a long volleyball season in Korea."

This season may be a chance for Jung to lead her side to glory with the experience she has accumulated. The Kixx have so far taken two losses, to last season’s league winners Heungkuk Life Insurance Pink Spiders on Oct. 31 and to the Gwangju AI Peppers on Nov. 10, but have bounced back with a 3-0 win against Daejon Jung Kwang Jang Red Sparks on Nov. 14.

Having won the Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) Cup — a preseason tournament in which all seven V League teams compete — in July, this season may be the first time the capital side secures a league title since the 2020-21 season when they swept all three titles: The KOVO Cup, league title and championship.

BY KIM HYO-KYUNG [kjdsports@joongang.co.kr]