'Rookie coach' Kim Yeon-koung's Pilsung Wonderdox suffered their first defeat to the IBK Industrial Bank Altos volleyball team, leaving a Korea-Japan matchup that evokes the real-life 'Haikyuu'.
On the 13th, according to ratings firm Nielsen Korea, the third episode of the MBC variety program 'Rookie coach Kim Yeon-koung' (directed by Kwon Nak-hee, Choi Yoon-young, Lee Jae-woo), which aired on the 12th, recorded a nationwide household rating of 4.7%. It was a more than twofold vertical rise from the 2.2% of the first broadcast.
In addition, the third episode of 'Rookie coach Kim Yeon-koung' showed an unstoppable rise with a 2.5% rating among viewers aged 20-49, a key indicator of channel competitiveness, and a 5.1% household rating in the Seoul metropolitan area. Centered on Kim Yeon-koung's first challenge as a coach, it rose as a new Sunday variety contender through the dramatic appeal of the real sport of women's volleyball and the underdogs' rebellion.
In particular, in the third episode of 'Rookie coach Kim Yeon-koung', the Pilsung Wonderdox led by coach Kim Yeon-koung felt the high wall of the pros after losing to the IBK Industrial Bank Altos with a set score of 1-3. Earlier, the Pilsung Wonderdox lost the first set to IBK 17-25. Trailing in the second set, the Wonderdox succeeded in reversing the score thanks to Pyo Seung-ju's performance and Moon Myung-hwa's serve ace.
In the late stages of the second set, the Pilsung Wonderdox began to wobble sharply. From failed blocks to attack errors, the momentum shifted to the opponent. Trailing 20-24, coach Kim Yeon-koung intentionally requested a video review to buy time and employ a psychological tactic to break the opponent's flow.
In the following rallies, the Wonderdox closed the gap on the Altos with Baek Chae-rim's sharp attacks and Moon Myung-hwa's serve ace. The two players then prevented points with focused super digs, and with added opponent errors it became 24-24, deuce. Back to square one, the momentum-born Wonderdox took the second set 26-28 with Yoon Young-in's serve ace and captain Pyo Seung-ju's powerful finishing spike.
The key player in the third set was Yoon Young-in. In the early part of the set, the Wonderdox launched active attacks but were blocked by IBK's solid defense. Coach Kim Yeon-koung nevertheless instructed aggressive attacks to raise the Wonderdox's fighting spirit. Kim subtly advised setter Lee Jin-yeon to use Yoon Young-in, and Yoon repaid that trust by scoring. But IBK's sharp attacks broke down the Wonderdox's defensive line, and they ultimately lost the third set.
In the fourth set, the invisible mind games between the two teams exploded. As the saying 'an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth' goes, the Wonderdox and IBK exchanged pass-painted battles, heightening the match's tension. Moon Myung-hwa, 'today's masterpiece', who had achieved two serve aces in the second set, awakened the Wonderdox's fighting spirit with another serve ace. Also, Lee Jin, facing her former team IBK, approached the match with unmatched resolve, adding to the team's scoring with dives for digs and perfectly placed sets for attackers. The Lee Jin and Yoon Young-in combo became the Wonderdox's reliable scoring formula in the fourth set.
Fueled by Lee Jin's performance, the Wonderdox continued a fierce mega-rally but ultimately conceded points. Due to a gap in attacking power that could not be easily closed, they failed to overturn the fourth set and tasted the bitterness of their first defeat. The loss, despite fighting spirit, left deep regret not only for the Wonderdox but also for viewers watching the broadcast.
Leaving the painful first match against a pro team behind, the Wonderdox headed to volleyball powerhouse Japan. Their opponent is Shujitsu High School, which boasts top-level Japanese high school skills at present. Making her international debut as a coach, Kim Yeon-koung said, "I will prepare hard so we can definitely win," raising expectations for the main match.
Scenes that sent ratings soaring to a peak minute rating of 6.8% showed IBK coach Kim Ho-cheol telling Wonderdox setter Lee Jin and libero Koo Hye-in after the match, "You should have played a little better," and calling them "players who make my chest tighten," followed by interviews with Pyo Seung-ju and Yoon Young-in feeling a crisis of team disbandment and the reveal of the next opponent, Shujitsu High School, demonstrating the unstoppable momentum of 'Rookie coach Kim Yeon-koung'.
Next week's broadcast will feature the full-scale match between the Pilsung Wonderdox and Shujitsu High School. Though the Wonderdox feel threatened by Shujitsu High School's net-like defense and next-level spikes, they will aim for victory with coach Kim Yeon-koung's strategic volleyball. With a 1-1 record and a 50% winning percentage, the Wonderdox face the crisis of team disbandment; all eyes are on whether they can overcome the IBK loss and add wins.
[Photo] Provided by MBC.
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