Women’s professional volleyball KGC Ginseng Corporation Jeong Ho-young (22, photo right) was a promising player enough to be selected for the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games national team while attending Sunseon Girls’ High School. With a good height of 190 cm, she was even called ‘the next generation Kim Yeon-kyung’ as she had the versatility to handle everything from an opposite spiker, an outside heater, and a middle blocker.
As expected, Jeong Ho-young was nominated by Ginseng Corporation as the first overall pick in the 2019-2020 rookie draft. In his debut season, Chung Ho-young was used as an outside hitter. The public opinion in the volleyball world that the successor of the ‘Volleyball Empress’ Kim Yeon-kyung should be raised could not be ignored, and Ginseng Corporation did not have a prominent player in the position.
However, Jeong Ho-young, who had just graduated from high school, had neither the receiving ability to receive his pro’s strong serve nor the offensive power to break through the high blocking wall. In the end, Jung Ho-young turned into a middle blocker to take advantage of his tall stature.
The 2020-2021 season, the second year that started ambitiously as a middle blocker. Another ordeal awaited Jung Ho-young. On October 18, 2020, his knee was twisted while landing in the first game of the season against IBK Industrial Bank, and the examination result was an anterior cruciate ligament tear. He was out for the season after just one game.
In the 2021-2022 season, after safely returning from surgery and rehabilitation, Jeong Ho-young played 28 games and scored 152 points, showing the potential of a large middle blocker, and this season, his fourth year, he seems to be finally exploding his potential. He appeared in all 27 games and scored 253 points, already far exceeding last season’s record. As of the 8th, the number of successful quick attacks is 104, which is the highest overall, and the success rate is 52.94%, second only to Yang Hyo-jin (Hyundai E&C, 56.92%), the best middle blocker in Korea. Blocking, the symbol of a middle blocker, is also ranked sixth with a successful 0.596 per set. 스포츠토토
Even in the match against IBK Industrial Bank of Korea held in Hwaseong on the 8th, middle blocker Jung Ho-young’s presence was evident. On this day, Chung Ho-young was a “wailing wall” to his opponents with 7 blockings, the most tie-ins in a single game. Chung Ho-young, who also attempted 11 quick attacks and succeeded in 6, scored 13 points, the second most on the team after Elizabeth (25 points), leading the team to a 3-0 victory.
Director Ko Hee-jin was also greatly encouraged by Jeong Ho-young’s performance. Director Koh said, “As Jeong Ho-young’s fast attack is eaten in the middle, Elisabeth’s share has the effect of lowering.” He has a great desire to do something,” he praised.
Currently, Ginseng Corporation is competing in spring volleyball with Expressway Corporation and GS Caltex. It is noteworthy whether Jeong Ho-young, who has come a long way and is showing his full potential after 4 years of joining the team, will continue his current momentum and lead the team to the playoffs.
