By Yi Whan-woo
Samsung BlueFangs dominated the Saturday opener of the Korean volleyball league (V-League) with a 3-1 win over Hyundai SkyWalkers in Daejeon.
The defending champions BlueFangs hinted that this year will see the rivalry with last year’s runner-up, the SkyWalkers continue, thanks to wing attacker Gavin Schmitt’s 34 points.
The home team was especially strong in the fourth set, when the squad crushed the opponents 25-12 to claim victory. The Bluefangs took the first two sets 26-24 and 25-23, while conceding the third, 17-25.
Schmitt known for his versatility in both wing positions took the left with his place last season on the right being taken up by Park Chul-woo. Park, the V-League’s all-time best right wing attacker, joined the team from the SkyWalkers this season.
The Canadian Schmitt, standing 2.07-meters tall, used his height to pounce with accuracy. More than half of his attempts were successful as his 57.89 percent scoring ability showed.
Schmitt dismissed any concerns regarding the absence of veteran left wing attacker Suk Jin-wook, who will miss the whole season because of injury.
Park also reveled in his position, as he scored 12, the second highest on the team in Saturday’s match.
It was a disappointing start for the SkyWalkers, considered one of the favorite’s this season.
The team’s new signing, a player from Puerto Rico Hector Soto proved himself capable of taking both wing positions as seen in the overseas leagues and ended up with 14 points, the second highest on the team.
“Even a talented foreign player requires some time to adjust to the V-League,” SkyWalkers head coach Kim Ho-chul said of Soto after the match.
On Sunday Korean Air Jumobs defeated LIG Greaters 3-1 while Woori Dream6 swept KEPCO45 3-0. Both games were held in Incheon.