[MyDaily — Cheonan | Reporter Kim Hee-su] Kim Ji-han has sharpened his edge even more.
Woori Card meets Hyundai Capital in Game 1 of the Jin Air 2025–2026 V-League men’s playoffs on March 27 at Yu Gwan-sun Gymnasium in Cheonan. The team is looking to build momentum and keep its surprising run alive.
Acting head coach Park Cheol-woo and Woori Card beat Hyundai Capital 3-2 at the same venue in Round 6, a result that kept their postseason hopes alive in dramatic fashion. Park reflected, "The win itself was a huge relief. If we had lost, we wouldn't have this opportunity. I do regret that we didn't finish it in three sets — we would have taken three points — but that's hindsight. The players' physical condition has improved since then. I think we can play even better now."
Park also praised Kim Ji-han's progress. "His condition has improved a lot. He was practicing floater serves this morning," Park said with a laugh. "He hits them almost like a spike serve — maybe he'd be better off not practicing." The remark nods to Kim's floater serve that dominated their recent quarterfinal.
Yu Gwan-sun Gymnasium is special for Park. He began his V-League career here and earned his name in front of the local fans. "This is where I first started playing volleyball. I received a lot of support from Cheonan fans, and I always feel comfortable coming here. But today I'm here as Woori Card's acting head coach. I'll do my best to lead the players to victory," he said.
Rafael Araujo (registered name Araujo) has been a driving force in Woori Card's turnaround. His improved handling of high balls — an early-season weakness for the team — has provided a major boost. Park pointed to the coaching and adjustments behind Araujo's improvement: "When I was a player, I studied and sought advice to improve my attack. I passed those insights on to Araujo, and he took them on well."
Park added that he has emphasized the importance of creating scoring connections when setters handle high-ball situations. "That focus has helped Araujo use his skills more effectively. The training staff have managed his conditioning well, and I also value recovery and rest, so we've made sure he gets enough downtime," Park said.
Woori Card, under acting coach Park, remains unbeaten on the road. Can they smile again at Yu Gwan-sun Gymnasium — a venue that has been a graveyard for visiting teams? All eyes will be on the outcome.
