IBK Altos delivered a hard-fought straight-sets victory over Korea Expressway Corp, winning 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-20) in the decisive final round of the 2025-2026 V-League women’s regular season at Gimcheon Gymnasium on March 17.
Standings Shake-Up
This win propelled IBK Altos to 18 wins and 18 losses, securing 57 points and overtaking GS Caltex (54 points) to claim fourth place. Hyundai Hillstate holds third with 57 points and 19 wins, leaving IBK just short in a tight race for playoff positioning.
Edge-of-Your-Seat Action
IBK’s libero shone brightly, anchoring the defense with relentless plays. Captain Jin Na-chul embraced the pressure, directing key scores despite the intense home crowd support for the visitors. Victoria tallied 20 points, while Yuk Seo-young added 11 and Choi Jung-min contributed 10, fueling the team’s dynamic offense.
For Korea Expressway, libero captain Kang So-hui stepped up despite a recent injury, distributing sets to aces like Kim Da-eun, Kim Se-in, and Kim Hyun-ji. Starters Jeon Se-yan (15 points) and Song Eun-chae (11 points) mounted fierce challenges, thrilling fans with persistent rallies.
Set-by-Set Breakdown
In the first set, Hwang Min-kyung’s three service aces and blocks from Victoria and Choi Jung-min opened a 10-4 lead, extending to 16-5 and 21-10 en route to 25-20.
The second set saw IBK lead 12-7 and 15-11 early, but Korea Expressway tied at 15-15 and pushed to 24-23. A crucial attack from setter Lee Ju-a sealed the 25-23 win.
The third set mirrored the intensity: IBK led 12-7, but Korea Expressway fought back to 14-15. Victoria’s central blocks regained momentum at 20-19, powering IBK to 25-20.
Coach Perspectives
IBK coach Yeo Hyun reflected, “We gave our all until the very end. I’m glad we played well today and will keep pushing hard.” She praised key players like Victoria and Yuk Seo-young, noting, “These are the players we must protect. The team’s depth showed in critical moments.” On the home advantage, she added, “Even if Expressway scores, our blockers like Asiacoter can handle it.”
Korea Expressway coach Kim Jong-min said, “Tana-cha did well today too, but we focused on hustle. I encouraged the players who couldn’t win.”
IBK’s momentum positions them strongly heading into Hyundai Hillstate’s analysis phase. Expressway’s young squad remains a contender despite the loss.
