Men's volleyball: Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance defeats Korean Air and escapes losing streak

Manager Tommy Tilikainen, who leads Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, broke away from a losing streak by defeating Korean Air, which he previously led.

Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance defeated Korean Air with a set score of 3-1 (30-28 20-25 25-17 25-16) in the HK Heungkuk Finance 2026-2027 V-League men's visit game held at Gyeyang Gymnasium in Incheon on the 14th.

Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance recorded 2 wins, 2 losses, and 6 points, dropping Korean Air to 5th place and rising to 4th place. Korean Air suffered three consecutive losses after winning the opening game.

Coach Tilkainen took office as Korean Air's coach for the 2021-2022 season, achieved a combined championship in three years, and served as the head coach until the 2024-2025 season.

After parting ways with Korean Air, he returned to the Polish league, but returned to the V-League this season after receiving a love call from Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, which started the rebuilding of a prestigious company.

Veteran setter Yoo Gwang-woo, who moved from Korean Air to Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance at the request of coach Tilkainen, led the way to victory with exquisite ball distribution.

Starting with the 3rd set tied at 1-1, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance took the lead thanks to a strong serve from Wang Bin, a former Chinese national team striker and Asian quarter player, and won an easy victory. In the 4th set, the team widened the gap with three consecutive blocks by left-handed striker Felipe Hoki (registered name Hoki) from Brazil and middle blocker Kim Jun-woo, earning 3 points.

The triangular formation of 212cm tall Hoki, outside heater Wang Bin, and Song Myeong-geun of Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance overwhelmed Korean Air's attacking trio in strength.

Hoki scored his third back attack to go 21-16 in the fourth set and achieved the triple crown by scoring more than three back attacks, serve points, and blocking points each. He scored 26 points with 4 back-end attacks, 3 serve aces, and 5 blocks.

Wang Bin scored 24 points, including 2 powerful and accurate serve aces and 8 agile back attacks. Song Myung-geun also contributed 14 points.

For Korean Air, Lim Dong-hyuk (18 points) and Jeong Ji-seok (12 points) played their part, but Xander Kettzynski (registered name Kettzynski) remained at 10 points and had no way to compete in the power battle.