"It would be a lie to say I feel no pressure. Our teamwork is visibly improving, so I am preparing for the new season with the mindset that I need to hold the center more firmly and give my teammates as much strength as I can."
Jeon Kwang-in, 35, who joined OK Savings Bank Wootman's overseas training camp last year as a new signing, is leading the team's preseason preparations this year with the captain's armband. The men's professional volleyball club has been training in Hiroshima, Japan, since Sept. 28. The men's league opens its cup tournament in Yeosu on Oct. 19, and the V-League season begins Oct. 31.
Speaking through the club on the 4th, Jeon said: "Last year we trained without a foreign player, but this year we have a complete squad, so I think the quality is coming through more in both training and practice matches." He added: "As we have spent more time together, the players talk to each other much more freely. Seeing things improve through that is encouraging."
Building chemistry with a reshuffled group of setters is another key task at this camp. Kim Dae-hwan, who joined during the preseason, and the team's attackers have been talking through each other's tendencies and adjusting one element at a time. "We are still working on it," Jeon said. "Dae-hwan has been here about two months, and he is working really hard. I want things to go well for him and I want to cheer him on."
He explained: "When something isn't clicking, we tell each other to focus on just one thing first. Once that is complete, we move on to the next one. We are going slowly, step by step. Every player is trying to help as much as possible, and we talk a lot as we adjust."
Jeon, who won a league-and-championship double with Hyundai Capital before moving to OK Savings Bank ahead of the 2025-26 season, has taken on a markedly different role from a year ago. At last year's camp he was adapting to a new team, following then-captain Boo Yong-chan. Now he must be the one holding the squad together. "Last year Yong-chan did such a good job that I was just following along," Jeon said. "This year I am going about it with the mindset of holding the center a bit more and being as much support as I can for the players. The other players help me a lot, so it is manageable, but it would be a lie to say I feel no pressure. I want to be a captain who can be a source of strength for the players."
The club's outside hitter corps has gained depth this season with the addition of Kim Jung-ho. Rather than framing it as fierce competition, Jeon emphasized that whoever steps on the court can carry out their role. "They are all players with their own abilities," he said. "Whoever goes into a match, there is another player behind them, so we are in a position where we can trust each other. Even if I am not at my best, the next player can fully handle that share. In that respect, I feel the team is well equipped."
With half of the overseas camp completed, what Jeon considers most important for the remaining schedule is refining "our own volleyball" before worrying about opponents. He wants to fine-tune set plays, including blocking and defensive positioning, and then develop the ability to respond to specific opponents.
"First, we need to align our set plays a bit more. I want to shore that up by sorting out blocking positions and defensive positions," Jeon said. "Right now, how we execute our own play matters more than how we stop the opponent. Getting our play in sync comes first." He added: "After that, I want the players to establish a bit more in terms of how we respond to opponents and the agreed-upon tactics for stopping their attacks."
