"Korea Expressway is a team that's strong in spring volleyball, so I think we can approach the championship series with confidence. We'll go hard so it doesn't go to Game 5." (Kang So-hwi)
"With today's performance and focus, I think we can do well in the championship series too." (Moon Jung-won)
Korea Expressway's key attacker Kang So-hwi (29) and libero Moon Jung-won (34) expressed confidence in winning the championship series after leading their team to a 3-0 victory over Heungkuk Life on March 13, clinching first place in the regular season.
Kang scored 18 points including three blocks and one service ace, while Moon recorded 16 digs and a 64.7% receive efficiency. Both players anchored the straight-sets victory on offense and defense.
Kang joined Korea Expressway as a free agent ahead of the 2024-2025 season and has now advanced directly to the championship series as regular season champions in her second year.
"Coach Kim Jong-min said let's win the championship in the second FA season, and I'm surprised and happy it came true," she said. "It was a season of growing together with my teammates, so I was happy playing volleyball."
This season, Kang formed the league's strongest attacking trio among the seven women's teams alongside foreign spiker Letizia Moma Bassoko (registered as Moma) and Asian quota player Tanach Suksod (registered as Tanacha).
Kang played no small role in Korea Expressway's dominant 10-game winning streak that established an early lead. "In the beginning of last year, my first year after the transfer, I felt pressure to prove myself," she said. "The coach told me to just do what I do, so after that I decided to play 'Kang So-hwi's volleyball' and enjoyed it."
"Today we said let's have fun with our teammates, so rather than getting emotional when first place was confirmed, I just felt happy after it was over," she added.
After a slight slump in Round 5, she said, "As the weather gets warmer, my body seems to be coming around. I want to make the Best 7 as an outside hitter. I'll defend the pride of domestic players."
Moon, who took over as starting libero after last season's "Best Libero" Lim Myung-ok left for IBK Industrial Bank, opened up about her struggles.
"This season was really hard," she said. "Since it was my first time as a libero, I had so many shortcomings. Teammates including Kang So-hwi kept telling me 'you're doing well,' and I think those words kept me going."
"When I was an opposite spiker, my defensive angles were narrower than now. Now there are many more scenarios and I have to defend any ball, so moving is difficult," she explained. "I've been asking various players including (Bae) Yu-na. I try not to obsess over statistics. I tried to sacrifice for my teammates."
"Today we said let's enjoy it and played with one heart and one mind. With today's performance, I think we can show a good performance in the championship series," she said, adding, "I have no desire for the Best 7 libero award."
Meanwhile, Korean Air clinched first place in the men's V-League regular season without playing, advancing directly to the championship series for the first time in two years. Second-place Hyundai Capital suffered a 1-3 comeback loss to last-place Samsung Fire & Marine in Daejeon on March 13, failing to add points and automatically confirming Korean Air's top finish.
Korean Air currently has 69 points, leading Hyundai Capital (66 points) by three. Korean Air has two games remaining including a March 19 showdown with Hyundai Capital, while Hyundai Capital has only the final match against Korean Air left.
However, even if Hyundai Capital wins 3 points against Korean Air on March 19 to record their 22nd win, they cannot overtake Korean Air, which currently has 23 wins.
Korean Air returns to the regular season summit for the first time in two seasons since the 2023-2024 season, when they achieved an unprecedented four consecutive championships.