Hyundai Capital head coach Choi Tae-woong, who was confidently looking forward to the start of the 2023-2024 season before the match, entered the press conference after the match with a troubled face.

"If the opponent made about one unforced error in the entire match, we made about two per set," Choi lamented.

Hyundai Capital lost the opening men's professional volleyball match against Korean Air on the 14th with a set score of 0-3 at Gyeyang Gymnasium in Incheon.

It was a two- to three-point game in each set, but the team couldn't get over the hump and fell to last season's champions Korean Air.

Choi lamented the absence of outside hitter Jeon Kwang-in, who was not in top form.

He said, "The core of our team is Jeon Kwang-in. It's a problem that he's not in good shape. (He can't attack from the outside hitter position), so the offence is pushed to one side. I don't want to play like that."

Hyundai Capital foreign player Ahmed Iqbairi (real name Ahmed), who made his debut on the day, scored a game-high 30 points for both teams.

However, with an attacking share of 55.21 per cent, he was responsible for more than half of the offence, exposing the opposition's attacking avenues on every possession.

Heo Soo-bong, who lost his spot to the signing of apogee spiker Ahmed, scored 10 points from the middle blocker position.

Coach Choi said, "He was actually training at the outside hitter position and his reception was better than expected, but he couldn't attack. He still needs time to adapt to attacking in the opposite direction from his original position," Choi said, predicting that he will play him as a middle blocker for the time being.

"I need more time to get my hands and feet in sync. I won't be at full strength until the middle of the second round."

Meanwhile, Korean Air head coach Tommi Tilikainen, whose side won the opening match, said: "The players had a fire in their eyes until the end. I liked the way they wanted to win. They have a really good defence, especially Ahmed in attack. It was an entertaining and good match."

"We have some technical things to work on. We have another game next week, and we need to grow and improve every week." 안전놀이터