Men’s professional volleyball team KB Insurance head coach Huh In-jung said this on Tuesday after the team sacrificed Korean Air for its first back-to-back wins of the season.
On the day, Andres Biyena (real name Biyena) scored his highest point total of the season (43) and set new records for attack percentage (68.33%) and attack share (56.07%).
However, Korean Air Apogee spiker Lim Dong-hyuk also scored 42 points, so as Hoo said, it was not a game that could be won by Bijena alone.
KB Insurance’s victory was made possible by effective turnover management (18-33) and the contributions of outside hitter Hong Sang-hyuk (14 points, 68.42% shooting percentage).
“We need to score from the left side like we did against OK Financial Group (in the previous game) and Korean Air today to have a good game,” Hoo said, adding, “Hong Sang-hyuk has the qualities to grow into a better player.”
It was a valuable performance, especially with Hwang Kyung-min out with a rib fracture.
After the match, Hong Sang-hyuk, 25, gave credit to his teammates.
“I make a lot of mistakes, so if there’s something wrong, Bijena tells me a lot of things so that I can fix it,” he said. When my weaknesses are compensated for and it goes well, she gives me a lot of praise saying, ‘You did a good job,’” he said.
As for her fellow outside hitter, Liu Hongmin, she said, “When we practice, Hongmin usually tells me, ‘If there is a strong serve, I will receive more, so you should attack,’” and reflected, “I feel more confident and comfortable hitting the ball.”
“Coach Hu always says, ‘Relax and do what you want to do with confidence. I feel like I haven’t lived up to his expectations, so I’m going to try harder.”
In the interview, the shy Hong Sang-hyuk did not hide his ambition.
“On the bus to the stadium, I always think about things like, ‘I have to show today,’ and ‘I have to do the Triple Crown,’” he said, adding, “I always have confidence (in the Triple Crown).”
The Triple Crown is defined as having at least three service aces, three back-attack points, and three blocking points.
If Hong Sang-hyuk continues to improve, Bijena will be able to maximize her scoring potential with less defensive pressure.
Hong has scored double-digit points in four consecutive games, starting with the second-round match against OK Financial Group on March 29. 토토