Rookie Coach Kim Yeon-koung Leads Pilseung Wonderdogs to Victory in Thrilling Finale

Pilseung Wonderdogs concluded their journey with a triumphant victory.

On the 23rd, the 9th episode of MBC's variety show 'Rookie Coach Kim Yeon-koung' aired, featuring the Pilseung Wonderdogs achieving a shutout victory against the 2024/2025 season champions, Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders, a team that marked both the beginning and end of Kim Yeon-koung's 20-year playing career.

The episode showcased an epic match attended by around 2,000 spectators, where Pilseung Wonderdogs faced off against Heungkuk Life. Amidst the roaring cheers of fans, the Wonderdogs took to the court, challenging the professional champions. Kim Yeon-koung, now standing as the Wonderdogs' coach rather than a player for Heungkuk Life, captivated viewers with her presence.

Under Coach Kim's leadership, Pilseung Wonderdogs united and soared. With Pyo Seung-joo's service aces and Moon Myung-hwa's strategic plays, they gained momentum early on. The players, guided by Coach Kim's insights into the Heungkuk Life team, engaged in a fierce battle, with Inku-shi's impeccable blocking and attacks drawing cheers from the audience.

However, Heungkuk Life's tactical plays and setter Lee Na-yeon's inconsistent performance allowed the Wonderdogs to concede a tie. Coach Kim substituted setter Goo Sol, but the team eventually fell behind. The tension escalated with a controversial referee decision, leading to a heated moment with Baek Chae-rim, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.

After a close 25-23 win in the first set, Coach Kim urged her team to maintain their focus for the next set. Despite initially gaining the upper hand with Pyo Seung-joo's consecutive service aces, they soon lost points. Coach Kim replaced the setter with Lee Jin, instructing faster tosses, and Kim Hyun-jung redeemed her net touch error with a successful block. Targeting the opponent's sixth position, the Wonderdogs executed their strategy flawlessly, securing the second set 25-19 with a thrilling finish.

The third set featured an exciting showdown between Wonderdogs' Inku-shi and Heungkuk Life's Jung Yoon-joo. Inku-shi, following Coach Kim's emphasis on strategic tips and blocking, pressured the opponents. Heungkuk Life responded by introducing national player Moon Ji-yoon, heightening the tension. Unfazed, the Wonderdogs displayed perfect teamwork, celebrating a 3-0 shutout victory.

Amidst cheers from fans and family, Pilseung Wonderdogs celebrated their final victory against Heungkuk Life. With a final record of 5 wins and 2 losses, a 71.4% win rate, Kim Yeon-koung expressed her joy, exclaiming, "We did it!" The episode also featured an interview with setter Lee Na-yeon, who returned to professional play with Heungkuk Life after a sudden retirement due to the yips, receiving congratulations from all.

Towards the end of the broadcast, the discussion of the ultimate goal, the '8th team formation,' continued. Kim Yeon-koung asked the executive producer why she was called, to which the producer replied, "Our goal was to establish the 8th professional team." The conversation about the 8th team was left open-ended, with the audio muted, leaving viewers with a cliffhanger.

According to Nielsen Korea, the 9th episode of 'Rookie Coach Kim Yeon-koung' achieved a 2049 viewership rating of 3.1%, ranking first among all variety shows aired that week. Lee Na-yeon's interview segment reached a peak viewership of 7.7%, setting a new record for the show.

Reporter: Jung Se-yoon, TenAsia yoon@tenasia.co.kr