“I’m looking forward to playing.”
Woori Card’s Kim Ji-han (24), who has been on a roll, led his team to victory once again.
Woori Card defeated Korean Air 3-1 (24-26 25-23 25-23 25-22) in straight sets in the Dodram 2023-2024 V-League Men’s Division at Jangchung Gymnasium on July 7.
Kim finished with 19 points on a 53.33% attack percentage. He also added two blocks and one service ace.
Kim Ji-han’s performance helped first-place Woori Card (11-3, 30 points) extend its winning streak to three games. Second-place Korean Air (8W5L, 25 points), which was within two points, slipped to five points.
Speaking after the game, Kim Ji-han said, “I’m glad we won because we could have lost the top spot if we lost today. I think winning three in a row against a strong team like Korean Air will be good for us in the long run,” he smiled.
Korean Air is a powerhouse, having won the overall title for three consecutive seasons. However, this season, Woori Card has been stronger against Korean Air, winning all three games.
“There are six rounds in the season, and Korean Air is a strong team, so I think there’s a good chance we’ll meet in the postseason. I think it’s important for us to win now to give us confidence and help us in the future.”
In fact, before the start of the season, Woori Card was categorized as one of the bottom teams. However, they defied everyone’s expectations and have been fighting for the top spot since the beginning of the season.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect to be number one,” said Kim Ji-han, who confessed, “I was more motivated because I heard all the players say that we were an underdog in the off-season. I think that’s why we’re doing so well now.”
She’s even more excited now that her performance is improving. “I don’t feel nervous or pressured when I play, not only against Korean Air (where we won the best-of-three series) but also recently. Rather, I look forward to the game and think about how to make it fun. When I do that, the team and I seem to do well,” she smiled.
She has even noticed her own growth. “When I play, I can feel that I move better than before. I feel like I can have more fun because I realize my skills have improved,” he said.
Kim is also close friends with KEPCO’s Im Sung-jin. Im has also shown remarkable growth this season. He was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the second round of the men’s competition.
“Since Sung-jin was the MVP of the second round, I thought I should be the MVP of the third round. “Rather than being jealous, I think it’s a good stimulus when Sungjin shows good form,” he said. “It’s a good stimulus in a competitive relationship. I also thought, ‘I shouldn’t lose to Sungjin,'” he laughed.
