“I needed Cerbero.”

It is not easy for a professional libero player to be selected in the first round in the Korean Volleyball Federation (KOVO) women’s new player draft. Each team played the outside hitter or middle blocker position or selected a valuable setter to strengthen their offense.

Until the recent 2023-24 KOVO Women’s Rookie Player Draft, there were only five cases in which a player playing the libero position was selected in the first round, not even the first pick, in the previous women’s rookie draft.


2008-09 season 1st round 5th place GS Caltex Na Hyun-jung (retired), 2009-10 season 1st round 5th place Heungkuk Life Insurance Kim Hye-sun (retired), 2017-18 season 1st round 1st place GS Caltex Han Su-jin (current GS Caltex), 2020-21 Hyundai E&C Hanmir (currently Hyundai Engineering & Construction), ranked 6th in the first round of the season, and Pepper Savings Bank’s Seulgi Moon (currently Pepper Savings Bank), ranked 6th in the first round of the 2021-22 season.

Even with this, Han Su-jin was not a professional libero. At that time, Han Su-jin was an all-round player who could play as an opponent, outside hitter, and setter. Excluding Han Su-jin, it can be said that there are only four first-round picks for professional libero players.

One name has been added to the history of only five first-round rookie liberos. This is Yoo Garam of Jecheon Girls’ High School, who was selected by GS Caltex as the 5th pick in the first round. GS Caltex took Heungkuk Life Insurance’s first-round pick during a trade with Heungkuk Life Insurance last season, and following the nomination of Joongang Girls’ High School setter Lee Yun-shin as the 4th pick, it also exercised its 5th pick instead of Heungkuk Life Insurance and nominated Yoo Garam.메이저사이트

Yoo Garam has been evaluated as a valuable libero. In early August, he served as the starting libero at the U19 World Championships held in Hungary and Croatia. Receiving success rate – ranked 10th in digs. He also represented the Asian Youth Championship and the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Cup held last year.


GS Caltex’s starting libero, Oh Ji-young, left for Pepper Savings Bank in the middle of last season. There are only Han Da-hye and Han Su-jin. Han Da-hye played the season with knee pain, and Han Su-jin mainly played the role of server to strengthen the rear defense. Of course, it was possible to operate the Da-hye Han-Sujin Han two libero system like when they won the treble in the 2020-21 season, but GS Caltex coach Sang-hyun Cha, who had a lot of trouble choosing a player to use as a server in the second half of the set, appointed Su-jin Han as a server. The second libero uniform was worn mainly on players who did not play.

Minji Kim came from Heungkuk Life Insurance, but has no V-League experience yet. In a situation where reinforcement as a libero was clearly needed, choosing Yoo Garam was the best choice for GS Caltex.

Coach Cha Sang-hyun also said, “The season is long. Although there are existing liberos, Han Da-hye is also injured and a player who can play the role of server was needed. “It’s not set in stone, but shouldn’t Yoo Garam play that role?”

He also said, “I think we selected quality players. There are certain attitudes toward the game and attitudes that players should have, and I would like to evaluate them favorably. “I think they showed their abilities during the 2 days and 1 night (the new players had a practice game in front of the women’s coaching staff at the Shintanjin Cheongkwanjang practice gym in Daejeon on the 8th and 9th),” he said.

Of course, along with Yoo Garam, Lee Yunshin is also a promising setter. He continued to grow as he received opportunities to play. Although it may not be easy to play right now. National team setter Kim Ji-won and Philippine setter Iris Tolenada, who is coming to the Asian quarter, are holding on. Also, Kim Ji-woo, a former trainee player, is melting into the team. However, it is clear that he is a player with a promising future.

For the 6th time in history, a female rookie first round libero was selected. What kind of performance will Yoo Garam show at GS Caltex?