Mar 19 β€’ 10:45 UTC πŸ‡°πŸ‡· Korea Hankyoreh (KR)

The V-League's Turbulent Ranking Competition with Four Interim Coaches

The V-League's 2025-2026 season concluded with an unprecedented ranking competition, featuring chaotic shifts in positions and four teams being led by interim coaches.

The 2025-2026 V-League season has reached its climax with an exceptional level of competition, marked by the unprecedented occurrence of both men's and women's teams competing in playoff semifinals. The outcomes have taken many twists, particularly in the battle for playoff spots as teams now prepare for the decisive phase known as 'Spring Volleyball'. The intense rankings are segmented into the leading competition and the tussle for third to fifth places, with notable performances from teams like Korea Electric Power in the men's division and Korean Road Corporation in the women's division.

In the men's bracket, Korean Air and Hyundai Capital fought fiercely for the top position, while in the women's division, Korea Road Corporation and Hyundai Construction battled for direct playoff entry. Overcoming mid-season challenges, such as injuries, Korean Air reclaimed the top spot, and Korea Road Corporation returned to the top after an eight-year hiatus. Meanwhile, the mid-tier rankings showcased fierce competition with teams mirroring each other's points, revealing the high stakes and unpredictability of upcoming matches.

An unusual feature of this season was the presence of four interim coaching setups, with KB Insurance, Our Card, and Samsung Fire & Marine in the men's sector along with IBK 기업은행 in the women's. Our Card notably improved its win rate significantly under interim coach Park Cheol-woo, moving from sixth to fourth place. Though IBK failed to reach the playoffs after a disastrous start, they stabilized under acting coach Lee Oh-hyun. In contrast, Samsung Fire & Marine faced difficulties, setting a new record for consecutive losses. The surprising performance of perennial underdogs Pepper Savings Bank, who failed to finish last for the first time, is also a notable mention.

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