Two V-League home openers, and both come down to the same question: whose serve breaks whose reception. In the women's game a rebuilt Hyundai E&C side is still looking for a first win, and their passing has become the weak point that the defending champions GS Caltex are built to attack. In the men's game Woori Card return home unbeaten in the league against a KAL side that lost tight endings at home five days ago. I expect most sets in both matches to be decided late, after 20-all.
Hyundai E&C vs GS Caltex. GS run through setter Kim Ji-won spreading the ball to Silva, Tanacha and Kwon Min-ji, and their coach credits that spread for taking the load off Silva. Hyundai have rebuilt the wings since Yang Hyo-jin retired, with Mega at opposite and Jordan at outside, and they have won one set in their last four matches.
The key matchup is GS's serve against Jordan's passing. In their last match Hyundai passed far worse than their opponent and lost the ace count 3-6, and coach Kang said himself that Jordan's reception shook badly when the serves were aimed at her. Kim Da-in to Mega is the piece that is improving, from 7 points to 18 in a week, and it is where any Hyundai set would come from.
No absences are reported on either side, and the hitters who matter played full roles last time out. Home crowd energy gives Hyundai their best chance in the first set. Once GS start serving at Jordan, though, the runs of points should come, as they did when Hyundai lost two late sets 19-25 in their last match. Hyundai have also lost almost every close set this season, including two at the end against GS in the cup, and their coach has talked about nerves when leading. GS beat this same group without dropping a set in the cup. That's why I'm siding with GS Caltex to win clearly, losing one set at most.
Woori Card vs KAL Jumbos. Woori score through one settled link, setter Han Tae-jun to Araujo, who has just put up 30 points with a triple crown. KAL spread the ball through Han Sun-soo to Lim Dong-hyuk, Jeong Ji-seok and a tall middle block.
KAL's block is the real threat. It won the cup meeting without dropping a set, although even that match had a 37-35 set. The other side of the mesh is newer: against Kepco, KAL's reception around their new outside Ketrzynski was broken by serve and they lost three sets from 23-all or later, with an interim coach on the bench. Woori have three serving threats in Araujo, Kim Hyung-geun and Martin, and they swept that same Kepco side away from home.
Kim Ji-han's absence is nothing new for Woori. He has missed their whole sample, including both league wins. The match should come down to tight endings, and Woori have been winning theirs. That's why I'm siding with Woori to take at least two sets at home.
