The Korea National Under-19 (U-19) Men’s Volleyball Team finished third at the FIVB U-19 World Championship for the first time in 30 years.
The U-19s, led by head coach Kim Jang-bin, won the bronze medal with a 3-1 (25-18, 25-19, 21-25, 25-23) victory over the United States in the third-place match in San Juan, Argentina, on Wednesday (June 12).
South Korea, who failed to qualify for the final after losing to Iran with a set score of 1-3 on Nov. 11, dominated the first set against the top-ranked USA.
At 14-12, middle blocker Jang Eun-seok (Sokcho High School) succeeded in blocking a center attack, and then extended the lead with an opponent attack error.
After taking the first set, Korea continued its momentum in the second set.
They extended their lead in the middle of the set with focused play to take the set 2-0.
Korea dropped the third set and looked like they were going to give up the lead, but they battled back to take the fourth set.
Korea took the lead in the fourth set at 23-21 when outside hitter Lee Woo-jin (Kyungbuk Cheongo) made a shaky serve receive and scored on a direct hit.
After giving up back-to-back points, Korea trailed 24-23 before a USA service error sealed the match.
Captain Yoon Seo-jin (Soosung High) led the team with 17 points, followed by Lee Woo-jin with 15 and Jang Eun-seok with 11.
“It’s been a long time since Korea has won a medal at the U-19 World Championship, so it’s great to be able to accomplish this,” Yoon Seo-jin told FIVB after the match.
Libero Kang Seung-il (Korean Air) was named the tournament’s Best Receiver.
It’s been 30 years since South Korea finished in the top three at the tournament, with the bronze medal coming in Istanbul in 1993.
That team was led by Choi Tae-woong (now head coach of Hyundai Capital), 카지노사이트넷 Seok Jin-wook (former head coach of OK Financial Group), and Jang Byung-chul (former head coach of KEPCO).
France won the title with a 3-1 set win over Iran.