SOOP Superstars Aim for Championship with Structured Volleyball

SOOP, a new professional women's volleyball team, is gearing up for its debut in the V-League, with head coach Kim Se-jin emphasizing the goal of playing "structured volleyball" rather than "neighborhood volleyball." The team, which officially joins the league in the 2026-2027 season after acquiring the Pepper Savings Bank team, faces the challenge of a late start and a roster composed of players who were largely released by their previous clubs.

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We are preparing with more care, not making excuses about the late start. We want to play SOOP's structured volleyball, not be told we play 'neighborhood volleyball.'

Kim, who previously coached a new men's team, Rush & Cash, to consecutive championship wins, noted the difference in team building. "With OK (Rush & Cash), it was easier to instill a team identity because we built the team step-by-step from player recruitment," he said. "For SOOP, existing players and new recruits are mixed, so we are focusing more on harmony."

The team's recruitment strategy involved acquiring players like Jeon Sae-yan and Ko Ui-jeong to fill gaps in the domestic attack, following the departure of key players. "We recruited players with the hope that their past pain would be sublimated," Kim explained. "We think this might actually make us a more cohesive team."

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With OK (Rush & Cash), it was easier to instill a team identity because we built the team step-by-step from player recruitment. For SOOP, existing players and new recruits are mixed, so we are focusing more on harmony.

Players like Ko Ui-jeong, who has been traded three times in her professional career, expressed a strong desire to stay with SOOP long-term. "There are times when I feel upset, but on the other hand, I feel a special attachment because I think this team needs me," she said. Jeon Sae-yan, who signed a contract with Korea Expressway Hi-Pass at the minimum wage before being traded, stated, "I had no other options because I wanted to keep playing professionally." She hopes to "find my own place by playing a lot of games."

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We recruited players with the hope that their past pain would be sublimated. We think this might actually make us a more cohesive team.

Foreign players Odriana Fitzmorris, an opposite spiker from the United States, and Iz Shue, a middle blocker from China, have also joined the team. Fitzmorris expressed excitement about living in Gwangju, known for its food and culture, and experiencing the passionate V-League fan base. Shue is eager to quickly build chemistry with the setters to showcase her attacking speed and height advantages. The team's captain, Ko Ye-rim, shared the anxiety players felt when the previous team, Pepper Savings Bank, faced financial difficulties and a sale, fearing their careers might end. "When SOOP's acquisition was decided, I was so grateful for the opportunity that came again and feel I can play with even greater passion," she said. The team, which finished last for four consecutive seasons before rising to sixth place last season, aims for higher aspirations in its inaugural season.

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There are times when I feel upset, but on the other hand, I feel a special attachment because I think this team needs me. If I get the chance, I want to play for this team until I retire.