육서영 22점 폭발…여자배구, 홍콩 꺾고 아시아선수권 8강 확정

South Korea's women's volleyball team, ranked 27th globally, advanced to the 8th place in the 2028 Los Angeles (LA) Olympic qualification Asian Games when they defeated Hong Kong 3-1 in the group stage match. Coach Cho Sun-hyun led his team to victory against China's Tianjin Olympic Center Arena on the 26th (KST) in the 2026 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship C-group 3rd match, with a score of 3-1 (20:25/25:15/25:11/25:18).

Korea won the match from Vietnam's 3-1 defeat and Japan's 0-3 loss, securing 2 wins and 1 loss, resulting in a 6-point ranking. This tournament determines the 2 teams with the best records from groups A, B, and C to enter the 8th place. In the beginning, Korea was shocked by Hong Kong's unexpected acrobatic play, but under the guidance of coach Cho, they adjusted their strategy and focused on the second to fourth sets to win the match.

Throughout the three sets, Korea consistently blocked Hong Kong's attacks under 20 points. Despite scoring only 13 points in blocking, Korea exceeded Hong Kong's 4 points in serving. All-court striker Yeoksul was instrumental with 22 points, including 3 blocks. Middle blocker Idahyun also contributed significantly with 14 points, including 4 blocks and 3 serving points.

Notably, Idahyun's two serving points in the third set played a crucial role in the victory. Additionally, libero Ahpyot Nahyun contributed 11 points (3 blocks), boosting the team's morale. As the 2nd ranked team, Korea will face the winner of the other group final based on their respective results. The tournament is significant as the 2028 LA Olympic tickets are at stake, with the final team automatically qualifying for the Olympic Games.

The 12 participating countries include the host nation, the United States, and five continental champions, with the remaining six spots determined by their performance in the 2027 FIVB Volleyball World Championship or their world rankings.