Men's Volleyball Team Falls to China 2-3... Faces Defending Champion Iran in Quarterfinals

The South Korean men's volleyball team (world No. 25) failed to overcome the wall of China (No. 35), the runner-up of the 2022 Hangzhou Games, advancing to the quarterfinals of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games as the runner-up of its group.

Led by head coach Isanaye Ramirez, the national team lost 2-3 in set score against China in their third Group D match of the tournament held at Park Arena Komaki in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on the 29th.

Having consecutively defeated the Philippines (No. 113) and Chinese Taipei (No. 55), South Korea recorded 2 wins and 1 loss in the group stage, advancing to the quarterfinals, which are contested by the top two teams from each group.

Their quarterfinal opponent, whom they will face on October 1, is Iran (No. 19), the top team of Group B and the defending champion.

The national team's performance on this day was not bad.

They claimed the first set, driven by well-organized teamwork and the firepower of primary spiker Heo Su-bong (Hyundai Capital), who has recovered from cold symptoms.

South Korea raised the atmosphere early in the first set led by the stellar performance of middle blocker Lee Sang-hyun (Armed Forces Athletic Corps), leading 10-5 at one point.

Heo Su-bong led the attack, including piercing through a three-man blocking wall to execute a diagonal shot when the score was 18-15.

The national team conceded consecutive points from 22-20, and allowed a turnaround when Heo Su-bong's attack went out of bounds at 23-23.

However, Heo Su-bong brought the game into a deuce with a sensational push shot, and tied the score again at 24-25 with Lim Dong-hyeok's (Korean Air) tool-out attack.

Heo Su-bong wrapped up the first set.

At 25-25, he struck a powerful cannonball serve, causing China's reception to shake significantly.

Eventually, China's attack went out of bounds, allowing South Korea to turn the match around again.

Shortly after, at 26-25, Heo Su-bong closed out the set himself by driving a serve into the corner of the opponent's court.

The second set was a disappointment.

South Korea maintained a one-point tight battle until Lim Dong-hyeok's attack was blocked by the opponent's wall at 20-21, falling behind by two points.

They subsequently gave up the momentum by conceding a service ace to China.

The pattern of the third set was similar.

The national team fought a neck-and-neck battle before conceding a point to the opponent's attack at 21-22, and lost the momentum when Choi Jun-hyuk's (Korean Air) middle quick attack was blocked by the opponent's blocking wall.

The national team did not give up the match.

They captured the fourth set to bring the game back to square one.

South Korea conceded four consecutive points from 16-9, during which Lim Sung-jin (Armed Forces Athletic Corps) suffered an unfortunate injury to his ankle while landing and left the court in a wheelchair.

However, the national team reclaimed momentum from 16-13 with consecutive blocks by Choi Jun-hyuk and Lee Sang-hyun, and lifted the mood with a service ace from Heo Su-bong at 23-20.

South Korea failed to clear the final hurdle.

In the fifth set at 4-8, they scored four consecutive points led by Lim Jae-young's (Korean Air) strong serve to tie the game at 8-8.

However, they failed to block the opponent's attack at 12-13, and after conceding the attack right due to shaky receptions at 12-14, they gave up a score at the end of a rally and lost.

Heo Su-bong recorded 17 points including 3 service aces, and Lee Sang-hyun added 14 points including 8 blocks.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.