Tall setter Lee Hyeon-seung (22 190 cm, Hyundai Capital), who is making his debut season, is emerging as a strong candidate for the rookie of the year as he leads the team to the top of the league.

As of the 27th, when we entered the 6th round, the final round of the 2022-23 V-League, Korean Air (65 points) and Hyundai Capital (64 points) are competing for 1st and 2nd place in the men’s division. Team senior Heo Soo-bong was selected as the MVP for the 5th round, but rookie setter Lee Hyun-seung also received two votes and was recognized for playing a significant role in the team’s battle for the lead. He began to receive opportunities as a substitute setter from the beginning of the season, and after appearing as the first starter in his debut in the match against Woori Card in the 3rd round (December 14), he is gradually establishing himself as the main setter.

In an interview on the 24th, Lee Hyun-seung said, “When I was first selected as a starting member, I was more nervous than during the draft.” He said, “In our team, there are not only national players, but also many older brothers with excellent individual abilities.” So I approach first, ask the hyungs and learn.”

He is a young player who joined Hyundai Capital through the rookie draft last year while attending Hanyang University (2nd overall). It is not an easy age to take on the heavy responsibility of being the main setter of a ‘team competing for the championship’. Lee Hyun-seung, however, endured and endured, and was mentioned as a candidate for the rookie of the year along with Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance middle blocker Kim Jun-woo. Director Choi Tae-woong also said of Lee Hyun-seung, “He is doing much better than expected. He is doing more than his own skills,” he praised. At the same time, he expected, “I know that the rookie of the season usually comes from a top-tier team.” Kim Jun-woo’s Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance is struggling at the bottom of the league, so it means that he will give strength to his student’s Rookie of the Year award. Lee Hyun-seung also said, “I think the hyungs keep driving (the atmosphere) to me. I want to be crowned Rookie of the Year,” he said confidently.

Recently, the team’s main gun, Heo Soo-bong, and breathing have improved significantly. In particular, according to the team strategy, Heo Soo-bong alternates between wing striker and middle blocker, and the two are said to be working together through night training. Lee Hyeon-seung said, “I feel comfortable because Subong-hyung hits fast attacks well in the center and solves back-guard attacks when I go to the rear,” and laughed. “We often watch videos together and talk a lot.” 안전놀이터

His twin brother Lee Hyun-jin is also active as a wing striker at Hanyang University. He started playing volleyball in the third grade of elementary school following his younger brother, and Lee Hyun-seung laughed, saying, “My younger brother, who was a setter at the time, was better at attacking, so I changed my position to a striker, so I took on the remaining role (setter).” Since then, he has led the team to national championships 10 times during his male middle and high school days, and in 2019, when he was in his third year of high school, he was selected as the national team for the Under-19 World Championships. Even at Hanyang University, he took the starting position from his freshman year. Lee Hyeon-seung said, “I don’t like receiving, but I liked it better (being pushed out of the offensive line)”, he trembled.

Hyundai Capital is fighting for the lead in a close match to the extent that director Choi Tae-woong mentioned the movie ‘The Battle of the Highlands’. Lee Hyun-seung said, “It is true that there is pressure and burden,” and “But if I fail, the team loses. I will play more responsibly. In particular, there is a chance (to win the regular league) only when we beat Korean Air. I will never support you,” he said vigorously. The final regular league match between Hyundai Capital and Korean Air will be held on the 5th of next month at Gyeyang Gymnasium in Incheon.