KB Insurance and Pepper Savings Bank, the two lowest-ranked teams in the men's and women's professional volleyball leagues, are setting a record of dishonor with their poor performances.
KB Insurance lost the men's home match of the Dodram 2023-2024 V-League on March 18 at Uijeongbu Gymnasium against Korea Electric Power Company with a set score of 0-3.
With their second straight loss, KB Insurance remained in seventh place, the bottom of the league, with a record of 4W20L and 17 points. The gap to sixth-place Hyundai Capital is 15 points.
While KEPCO had 15 blocked shots, KB Insurance had only four. KB Insurance's attack success rate was only 39.18%.
On this day, KB Insurance set a record of dishonor. The game lasted 1 hour and 11 minutes, the shortest game played by any team in the men's division this season. It was a one-sided affair.
KB Insurance also holds the record for the fewest points scored by both teams. In their away match against OK Financial Group on March 13, the two teams combined for 124 points, the fewest in any match this season. If a match ends in three sets, the winning team's score is fixed at 75 points. In other words, the lowest combined score means that the losing team, KB Insurance, scored fewer points.
KB Insurance ranks near the bottom of the league in kills, back-attacks, serves, blocks, and digs.
The departure of key players is the biggest reason for their struggles. Starting setter Hwang Taek-ui and outside hitter Na Kyung-bok, who joined as a free agent, are both fulfilling their military obligations.
Last-place Pepper Savings Bank in the women's division is also setting one dishonorable record after another.
Pepper Savings Bank lost its home match against Hyundai E&C on Nov. 19 at Pepper Stadium with a set score of 1-3 (9-25 31-29 26-28 19-25). With a 2-22 record and seven points, the team remains in the bottom seven. The gap with sixth-place Korea Expressway Corporation is 18 points.
With their 17th consecutive loss, 안전놀이터 Pepper Savings Bank tied the team record for most consecutive losses in a single season. Pepper Savings Bank had previously lost 17 games in a row in the 2021-2022 season, its first in the V-League, and again in the 2022-2023 season.
Pepper Savings Bank also holds the record for the shortest game time in the Women's Division this season. They lost to GS Caltex in 1 hour and 11 minutes on February 2.
If the losing streak is extended, they will set the record for the longest losing streak in history. Pepper Savings Bank lost 20 consecutive games from the 2021-2022 season to the 2022-2023 season, tying the record for the longest losing streak with its predecessor, KGC Ginseng Corporation.
Pepper Savings Bank is also underperforming in various indicators. They rank last in the league in scoring, total offense, open attack, back attack, serve, receive, sets, and defense. Despite the addition of high-level foreign players Yasmin and Korean national team captain Park Jung-ah, the team's performance has been criticized for not being much different from last year.
It will be interesting to see if the two teams at the bottom of the men's and women's leagues can shake off their slump and rebound.