KEPCO and Korean Air are competing for the top spot in the 2022 Cup.



KEPCO defeated Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance 3-0 (25-23 25-21 25-18) with a set score in the men's semifinal of the 2022 Suncheon Dodram Cup Professional Volleyball Tournament held at Palma Gymnasium in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do on the 27th.



Korean Air won the Woori Card set score 3-1 (28-26 21-25 25-17 25-23).



The two teams will play the final on the 28th at 1:30 PM.



KEPCO is aiming to win the fourth cup after the 2016 Cheongju, 2017 Cheonan, and 2020 Jecheon competitions.



In 2020, Jecheon defeated Korean Air in the final to win the championship.



After winning trophies in Masan in 2007, Suwon in 2011, Ansan in 2014 and Suncheon in 2019, Korean Air is embarking on its fifth challenge for the summit.



In the face-to-face meeting of the new commander, Kwon Young-min, manager of KEPCO, defeated Samsung Fire & Marine Manager Kim Sang-woo.



In the 'cup competition star' pride battle, KEPCO outside heater Kim Ji-han took precedence over Samsung Fire & Marine's Apogee spiker Hong Min-ki.



Kim Ji-han scored 18 points, the most for both teams, including 5 blocking points and 2 sub-aces.



On the other hand, Hong Min-ki, who served as the main gunner for Samsung Fire in the preliminary round, suffered only three goals as he was put under check by KEPCO.



KEPCO also overtook Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance 12-7 in blocking.



The old-fashioned harmony of veteran Seo Jae-duk and Shin Young-seok (over 11 points), and young winged strikers Kim Ji-han and Im Seong-jin (8 points) was also outstanding.



In the semifinals held earlier, Korean Air, which achieved the combined victory in the V-League for two consecutive seasons, defeated Woori Card, the winner of last year's cup competition, 3-1.



Korean Air, who gave the main players a break in the final match of Group B preliminary, sent out all the main players except one setter in the semifinals.



Apogee spiker Lim Dong-hyeok (35 points) and outside heater Jung Ji-seok (25 points) savagely attacked the Woori Card camp with a lighter body.



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Woori Card also counterattacked with Na Kyung-bok (20 points) and Lee Kang-won (12 points), but failed to overcome the barrier of Korean Air.



(Photo = provided by Korea Volleyball Federation, Yonhap News)