Hillstate snatch first as Pink Spiders stumble against Hi-Pass

Suwon Hyundai Engineering & Construction Hillstate snatched the top spot in the V League from the Heungkuk Life Insurance Pink Spiders last week, heating up the V League race as the temperatures outside plummet.

Suwon Hyundai Engineering & Construction Hillstate players celebrate during a V League game against the Daejeon Jung Kwang Jang Red Sparks at Chungmu Gymnasium in Daejeon on Saturday. [YONHAP]

Suwon Hyundai Engineering & Construction Hillstate snatched the top spot in the V League from the Heungkuk Life Insurance Pink Spiders last week, heating up the V League race as the temperatures outside plummet.

Hillstate needed to continue their momentum last week to steal the frontrunner spot and they did so with a perfect 3-0 victory over the Gwangju AI Peppers on Dec. 12, before securing a 3-2 win against the Daejeon Jung Kwang Jang Red Sparks on Saturday.

Outside hitter Laetitia Moma Bassoko’s skill was on display, as she was the team’s top scorer in both games with 20 points against the Peppers and 33 against the Red Sparks.

Last week’s two wins extended Hillstate’s winning streak to eight games, having recorded their last loss to the Pink Spiders on Nov. 12.

The Pink Spiders, on the other hand, lost 3-2 to Gimcheon Korea Expressway Hi-Pass for their third loss of the season on Sunday, slipping down to trail Hillstate by a point as of Monday.

The fierce race between the Pink Spiders and Hillstate echoes last season, when Hillstate was the frontrunner until the Incheon side snatched the top position in the second half of the 2022-23 campaign. The Pink Spiders then went on to win the league, while Hillstate finished as runners-up.

Down in the middle of the table, third-place GS Caltex Seoul Kixx secured a 3-0 victory over the Peppers on Friday in Gwangju, handing them yet another loss.

It was another disappointing loss for the Peppers, who have only managed two wins in 16 games as of Monday.

Last season’s championship winners Hi-Pass have also had a disappointing season so far, securing four wins in 16 games to sit in sixth place on the seven-team table, although they managed that 3-2 win against the Pink Spiders on Sunday.

The fifth-place Hwaseong IBK Altos, meanwhile, suffered a 3-2 loss to the Pink Spiders on Thursday and failed to climb up the standings.

The Altos may snatch fourth from the Red Sparks this week, as only one point separates the two — the Red Sparks with 24 points and Altos with 23.

The V League continues this week with the Altos facing the Peppers at Hwaseong Gymnasium in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The Pink Spiders will then take on Hillstate at home the following day as they look to reclaim the top spot.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]