Rookie Coach Kim Yeon-koung's 'Wonder Dogs' Face First Defeat Against IBK Altos

The 'Wonder Dogs', led by rookie coach Kim Yeon-koung, faced their first defeat against the IBK Altos volleyball team.

In the third episode of MBC's variety show 'Rookie Coach Kim Yeon-koung', aired on the 12th, the 'Wonder Dogs' lost with a set score of 1-3 to the 'IBK Altos', realizing the high wall of professionalism.

Initially, the Wonder Dogs lost the first set to IBK with a score of 17-25. Despite trailing in the second set, the Wonder Dogs managed a comeback with Pyo Seung-joo's performance and Moon Myung-hwa's service ace.

Entering the latter part of the second set, the Wonder Dogs began to falter. With blocking failures and attack errors, the momentum shifted to the opponent. To help the Wonder Dogs, who were in a crisis at 20-24, Coach Kim Yeon-koung strategically requested a video review, buying time and disrupting the opponent's flow.

In the ensuing match, the Wonder Dogs chased the Altos closely with Baek Chae-rim's sharp attacks and Moon Myung-hwa's service ace. The two players prevented points with focused super digs, and with the opponent's errors, the score tied at 24-24, leading to a deuce. Riding the momentum, the Wonder Dogs secured the second set with Yoon Young-in's service ace and captain Pyo Seung-joo's powerful finishing spike, recording 26-28.

Yoon Young-in was the key player in the third set. Although the Wonder Dogs launched active attacks early in the set, they were blocked by IBK's solid defense. Unfazed, Coach Kim instructed aggressive attacks, boosting the Wonder Dogs' fighting spirit. She subtly advised setter Lee Na-yeon to utilize Yoon Young-in, who rewarded the trust by scoring. However, the Wonder Dogs' defense line collapsed under IBK's sharp attacks, ultimately losing the third set.

The fourth set saw an invisible psychological battle between the two teams. As the saying goes, 'an eye for an eye', the Wonder Dogs and IBK engaged in a pass feint battle, heightening the tension. Moon Myung-hwa, who succeeded in two service aces in the second set, reignited the Wonder Dogs' fighting spirit with another ace. Lee Jin, facing her former team IBK, played with exceptional determination, contributing to the team's score with diving digs and perfectly placed sets for the attackers. The Lee Jin and Yoon Young-in combo became the Wonder Dogs' reliable scoring formula in the fourth set.

Despite Lee Jin's efforts, the Wonder Dogs continued a fierce mega rally but eventually conceded points. Unable to overcome the offensive gap, the Wonder Dogs tasted their first defeat, leaving both the team and viewers with a sense of regret.

Leaving behind the painful first encounter with a professional team, the Wonder Dogs headed to Japan, a volleyball powerhouse. Their opponent is Shuji High School, boasting top-tier skills among Japanese high schools. Coach Kim Yeon-koung, making her debut on the international stage, expressed her determination, "We will prepare diligently to ensure victory," raising expectations for the main match.

The third episode of 'Rookie Coach Kim Yeon-koung' recorded a 2.5% viewership rating among the 2049 demographic and a 5.1% household rating in the metropolitan area, establishing itself as a new powerhouse in Sunday variety shows. The nationwide rating was 4.7%, a 0.7% point increase from last week, more than double the 2.2% of the first episode.

A scene where IBK coach Kim Ho-chul, after the match, tells Wonder Dogs' setter Lee Jin and libero Koo Hye-in, "I wish I could have done better," and calls them "heartwarming players," along with an interview with Pyo Seung-joo and Yoon Young-in feeling the crisis of team disbandment, and the reveal of the next opponent Shuji High School, soared to a peak viewership of 6.8% per minute.

Next week's broadcast will feature the full-fledged match between the Wonder Dogs and Shuji High School. The Wonder Dogs feel threatened by Shuji High School's net defense and superior spikes, but aim for victory with Coach Kim Yeon-koung's strategic volleyball. With a 1-1 record and a 50% win rate, the Wonder Dogs face the risk of disbandment. It remains to be seen if they can overcome the defeat against IBK and add to their win tally.

MBC's variety show 'Rookie Coach Kim Yeon-koung', heating up Sunday nights with volleyball fever, will air its fourth episode on the 19th at 9:10 PM.

Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr