Red Sparks will face a very decisive home game against Suwon Hyundai E&C Hillstate in the fifth round of the Korean Volleyball League this season. The match that is waiting for will be held at Chungmu Gymnasium, Daejeon, South Korea, on Friday (7/2/2025) at 17.00 WIB.
High enthusiasm and impressive performance
According to the KBS Sports report, Red Sparks increasingly attracts the attention of fans thanks to their extraordinary performance this season. The team, nicknamed the Red Force, has recorded 13 consecutive wins and is now ranked third in the standings, only one step away shifting Hyundai Hillstate who is the defending champion.
The high enthusiasm of fans can be seen from home game tickets that are always sold out. In the last two matches, 3,700 tickets in Daejeon were sold out in a short time. Not only neat performance on the field, the presence of two foreign players, Megawati Hangestri Pertiwi and Vanja Bukilic, also became the main attraction for supporters.
“Fans from various corners of Korea came to watch the appearance of Mega and Bukilic, as well as the cohesiveness of senior players like Yeum Hye-seon,” KBS Sports wrote in his review.
Positive impact on the local economy
The popularity of Red Sparks not only benefits the team, but also has an economic impact for traders around the stadium. Park Jeong-Hyeok, a shop owner in Chungmu Gymnasium, revealed that the surge in the number of spectators helped increase their income.
“Many spectators came earlier and queued for hours before the match began. The number of our customers increased dramatically, so I thought of adding staff, “Park said.
Megawati Hangestri Pertiwi: MVP Dua Rounds in a row
Megawati Hangestri Pertiwi Become one of the main stars behind success Red Sparks. Pevoli from Jember, East Java won the MVP title in the third and fourth round. Not only that, his popularity on social media also helped boost the number of followers of the Red Sparks Instagram account which has now increased to 300,000 followers, the majority came from Indonesia.
On the sidelines of the training, Megawati was interviewed about the defeat experienced by the team after their successive victory stopped. However, he remained optimistic to look at the match ahead.
“Losing there, winning also there. But we shouldn’t be too fixated on that result. The most important thing is how we face the next match, “Mega said.
Red Sparks coach, Ko Hee-Jin, also confirmed the importance of maintaining the physical condition of the players ahead of the crucial phase this season.
“This team is getting closer to the chances of champions. We are a strong team, and if the players remain focused and avoid injury, good results will come, “said the 44 -year -old coach.
Red Sparks last felt the Korean Volleyball League title in the 2011-2012 season, or 13 years ago. With their slick performance this season, the opportunity to repeat the glory is increasingly wide open.
Support from the top of the standings
Ahead of the duel against Hyundai Hillstate, Red Sparks also received support from the coach of the top of the standings, Incheon Heungkuk Life Insurance Pink Spiders, Marcello Abbodanza.
“Since I came to South Korea, I have always watched all the Korean volleyball league matches without missing a single,” Abbodanza said after his team’s victory over Gimcheon Hi-Pass.
“Tomorrow is the Red Sparks home match, and I hope they can rise from the previous defeat and win,” he added.
With the increasingly fierce competition at the top of the standings, each point becomes very valuable. Red Sparks now has a great opportunity to strengthen their position in the hunt for the 2025 Korean Volleyball League title.