“Player Kim Yeon-koung, it would be a shame to send her off like this.”

On the 4th, at Daejeon Chungmu Gymnasium, which could have been the last day of the great career of 'volleyball queen' Kim Yeon-koung (37, Heungkuk Life), the head coach of the opposing team, Ko Hee-jin, expressed her determination to win with a witty comment about Kim Yeon-koung.

With losses in the first two matches, Kwangjang was in a must-win situation. Many reporters filled the venue, as it could be Kim Yeon-koung's last match. All attention was focused on Heungkuk Life's championship celebration and Kim Yeon-koung's final moments.

Coach Ko Hee-jin said, “It’s a highly publicized match, and I also wish that Kim Yeon-koung could play one more game. It would be a shame to send her off like this. She really plays well. (In the second match), she showed why she is the world’s top attacker,” adding, “I think the entire nation is hoping to see Kim Yeon-koung play at least one more game. For that to happen, we need to do our part. We won’t let her go easily.”

However, it did not seem easy to stage a comeback, as the key players were all suffering from injuries. Setter Yeom Hye-sun (knee) and libero Noh Ran (waist) were playing while taking painkillers, and the 'double shot' Mega (knee) and Bukilich (ankle) were also not in normal condition. It seemed that Kim Yeon-koung's wall was too high to overcome for the injury-plagued team.

As expected, after losing the 1st and 2nd sets, Heungkuk Life was just one set away from overall victory. Just when it seemed it would end this way, Kwangjang's counterattack began. Even if they were going to lose, Coach Ko only wanted to avoid a shutout. Ahead of the third match, she encouraged the players by saying, “Let’s just win one set,” but they had no idea they would end up winning all the way to the fifth set. They staged a 3-2 reverse sweep from the brink.

This victory came after two straight losses. It was not merely a win. After the match, an emotional Coach Ko said, “I think this was a touching match that will be remembered in V-League history. If the players were in normal physical condition, I wouldn’t express it as so touching… Given that all the players are dealing with injuries, I was concerned about whether we could play such a great match again. I applaud our players' fighting spirit.”

Yeom Hye-sun's determination, struggling to move properly due to knee pain, was heart-wrenching. To buy time for Yeom to manage her pain, Coach Ko even spoke with the referee. With unyielding determination, Yeom continued to toss the ball, saying, “I’m glad it didn’t end today. It would be frustrating to end it at home. The players all played with this mindset, and we have to strive to win the fourth match so we can reach a fifth match.”

Despite waist pain, Noh Ran threw herself into defense, stating, “Everyone is in a difficult situation, but being in pain cannot be an excuse. I didn’t want to make excuses using my pain,” adding, “There’s no pressure from those around me to participate in the game; I wanted to play. I have worked hard since the regular season to come this far. It would feel too empty if I didn’t play. Unless I can't walk or it's too painful, I think I should play.”

Foreign player Bukilich also expressed, “It could have been my last match, but I’m grateful we could win. I’m relieved that all the players seem to have overcome the difficult situation well,” adding, “My ankle is not at 100% but is gradually improving as I play.”

The fourth match of the championship series will be held after a day's rest on Feb. 6 at 2 p.m. at Daejeon Chungmu Gymnasium. There is absolutely no desire to watch someone else’s party at home. Even if we lose, we want to reach a fifth match. Yeom Hye-sun expressed, “I’m thinking of doing this with the mindset of fighting until death on the court,” and added, “I want to capture the fourth match and go to Incheon.” If the determination of the Kwangjang players continues, Kim Yeon-koung’s retirement might be postponed for at least one more game, possibly filling out the fifth match of the championship series.

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