GS Caltex took another step toward its third consecutive Professional Volleyball Cup title by defeating 2023-2024 V-League champion Hyundai E&C.
GS Caltex defeated Hyundai E&C 3-1 (25-21 20-25 29-27 25-23) in straight sets in the second round of the Women’s Group A of the 2024 Tongyeong-Dodram Cup Professional Volleyball Tournament at Tongyeong Gymnasium in Gyeongnam on Monday.
GS Caltex, who defeated Korea Expressway Corporation 3-2 in the first round, won its second straight match to advance to the semifinals regardless of the outcome of the third match against Pepper Savings Bank.
GS Caltex has won six trophies in the Women’s Division of the Cup, the most in the history of the competition, including titles in 2022 and 2023.
The victory over Hyundai E&C, who finished 1-5 in the regular season of the 2023-2024 V-League, further boosted their hopes of winning their seventh Cup title.
Giselle Silva (real name Silva), the top scorer in the V-League last season, scored a game-high 33 points.
AsiaQuarter player Stephanie Wyler (née Wyler) chipped in with 24 points.
Wyler’s performance was a big boost for GS Caltex, who had little help from Asian quarters in the 2023-2024 season.
GS Caltex, coached by middle blocker Lee Young-taek, also battled with Hyundai E&C in the ‘height battle’.
The blocking score was 10-6 in favor of Hyundai E&C, but GS Caltex led 27-20 in effective blocking.
The deciding set was the third set.
GS Caltex, which won the first set but dropped the second set, fought a deuce battle with Hyundai E&C in the third set.
At 26-27, Silva’s open attack gave GS Caltex a breather, but Hye-Jin Yang’s fast ball hit the net to make it 28-27.
Then, Kim Joo-hyang’s serve shook the opponent and Silva scored on an open attack to close out the third set.
At 13-12 in the fourth set, Silva’s quick opener was followed by Choi Ga-eun blocking a quick opener by Hyundai E&C’s Jung Ji-yoon, and Wyler’s open attack made it 16-12.
HCE rallied to 23-24, but Leticia Moma Basoko’s (registered name Moma) serve went off the line and the match ended in vain.
Earlier in the day, Korea Expressway Corporation defeated Pepper Savings Bank in three sets, 3-1 (22-25 25-19 25-23 27-25), thanks to the performance of its newly formed trio of Kang So-hui, Uniesca Batista (née Uni), and Merelin Nikolova (née Nikolova).
With free agent signing Kang So-hwi (21 points), drafted Asian quarterback Yuni (23 points), and foreign player Nikolova (20 points) scoring evenly on the flanks, Roadworks improved to one win after one loss in the cup competition and boosted their hopes of reaching the quarterfinals.
Pepper Savings Bank, the youngest club in the competition, also gained height with Barbara Zavic (23 points-registered name Zavic) and Park Jung-ah (15 points). They fought back through Zhang Yu (13 points), but lacked a century.
Pepper Savings Bank, who have been competing in the Cup since 2022, suffered their eighth defeat in the tournament without registering their first win. The team’s midway point in the qualifiers is two losses.
New head coach Choi Jang-yeon has also postponed his first victory to a later date. 안전놀이터