“You shouldn’t be greedy for blocking.”
“We’ve been doing it for a really long time.”
The two players, who had been together for 14 years, chimed in with each other throughout the interview. When Jeong Dae-young (42) talked, Bae Yu-na (34), who was next to her, added a choo-im-sae, saying, “That’s right, sister.”
The first meeting between Jung Dae-young and Bae Yoo-na was in 2006 on the national volleyball team. Jung Dae-young recalled, “At the time, Yuna was a high school sophomore. I and Kim Sa-ni (retired) said in unison, ‘She’ll do well in volleyball later.
” After being nominated, he joined GS Caltex. Jeong Dae-young, who was ranked first in scoring and blocking in the first year of the V-League (2005), was also a member of GS Caltex. Bae Yuna said, “I heard that ‘Senior Dae-young is scary’ before joining, but it was not.” Jung Dae-young smiled and admitted, “I changed a lot after getting married (in 2008).”
Jung Dae-young became a free agent (FA) in the 2014-15 season and transferred to Korea Expressway Corporation. Bae Yu-na also joined the road construction in the 2016-17 season through an FA contract. It’s been 14 years since we played together in the pro league. Bae Yoo-na, who has been in her 16th year as a professional, said, “Sister, we’ve been together for a very long time. I didn’t know this would happen. (As if it was natural) We always practiced and played together.”
Jeong Dae-young and Bae Yuna are the pillars of the road construction. 3rd place Highway Corporation won the KGC Ginseng Corporation match held on the 31st of last month with a set score of 3-0 and scored 41 points, breaking out of the mid-level competition. Jeong Dae-young scored 7 points (4 blocks) and Bae Yuna scored 11 points (5 blocks). This is thanks to the 12-4 advantage in the blocking fight.
From the 2020-21 season, the road construction has been ranked first in team blocking for three consecutive years. This season, Jung Dae-young is 3rd with 0.747 blocks per set, and Bae Yuna is 4th with 0.740 blocks per set. The Korea Expressway Corporation replaced foreign players this season. In addition, even in a situation where the main gun Park Jung-ah is somewhat stagnant, it is ranked third after Hyundai E&C and Heungkuk Life Insurance. This is because the two players kept the ‘center’.
Jung Dae-young said proudly, “Maybe it’s because we’re the No. 1 team in blocking, so if there’s no blocking, we don’t get excited overall. To get good results, the support of the center is more important than the striker. Yuna and I are holding up well in the middle.”
Both of them confessed, “I always worry about the stress and anxiety about blocking.” After team training, look at each other’s hands or do additional training. Mentality also takes care of each other. Jeong Dae-young said, “When blocking is not going well, we ask each other and let them know. Can’t we ask juniors in their 20s?” he said.
Jung Dae-young lost the blocking title to Han Song-i (0.699) in the final match of the 2020-21 regular season. At the last moment, when Jeong Dae-young fell to the final 2nd place (0.697 points), Bae Yoo-na stood by her and comforted her, saying, “Sister, are you very upset?”
During the interview, Jeong Dae-young said, “In the past, (playing as a center) in the national team, I played a back attack and also received. At that time, there were no professional liberos.” Then, Yuna Bae laughed and said, “Sister, you’ve been playing volleyball for a long time.”
Jung Dae-young is the oldest player in the V-League. She is the oldest female player in all Korean professional sports. Jeong Dae-young said, “Sometimes it’s hard. There are times when I’m afraid of thinking, ‘What should I do if (my skills) drop further?”
Bae Yoo-na admitted, “Even on days when my physical strength is low, my sister’s blocking is the same. Even if it’s not good in the beginning, I quickly find my senses in 2-3 sets. It’s amazing.” . 먹튀검증
Jeong Dae-young said, “When I ask my only daughter (Bomin), ‘Mom, how long will I play?’, he says, ‘It’s okay to continue running as a player, or if it’s hard, you can live with me. I hope my mother does what she wants.'” She is also playing volleyball for Bo Min-yang, who is going to middle school this year. Her position is outside hitter (left).
To Jung Dae-young, her junior Bae Yoo-na is reassuring. He said, “In the 2019-20 season, when Yuna was injured, she was at the bottom of the team blocking. At that time, the pressure on her was too great.” Then Bae Yoo-na said, “Why? I don’t have it?” and grabbed her senior’s hand. Jung Dae-young said, “She was chosen as one of the best 7 for the first time in her life in the 2018-19 season, and then she learned from watching Yuna’s one-legged attack, which is different from mine,” she was grateful. Jeong Dae-young also said, “(Among middle blockers) there are few players who have both basic skills and sense. Yuna is a genius.”
Bae Yoo-na replied, “Because I am short. After finishing her 4th round, Bae Yoo-na scored 294 points (13th, 2nd among middle blockers), and is likely to break her personal record for the most points in a single season (371 points, 2016-17 season).
This season, Jung Dae-young will challenge for the third title in his personal career. He was ranked second in blocking five times in the season. In the 2020-21 season, Yuna Bae finished third in blocking (0.61), the highest score. Jeong Dae-young said, “Director Kim Jong-min says, ‘This time, try to win (the title) at least once.’
However, Jung Dae-young said, “It’s really not easy. I’ve experienced several times coming down at the moment I was greedy. This season, I came in first place only once,” and said, “Blocking is the most difficult.” Bae Yoo-na also chimed in. Bae Yoo-na, who was ranked first in blocking in the first round, said, “It’s a burdensome position,” but “I don’t know which of the top 5 players will have the last laugh. ) Wouldn’t it be greedy?”
Jeong Dae-young said, “(The time of retirement) may be this season, or I may play more. I want to do everything I can on the court until the end.”