Press release

Tokyo, Japan, November 18, 2011 - Korea beat Argentina in straight sets (25-17, 28-26, 25-23) on the final day of fourth-round action in the FIVB Women's World Cup at Tokyo Metropolitan Gym on Friday afternoon.

The victory gave Korea a 3-8 win-loss mark for the tournament tied with the defeated side.

Korean star Yeon-Koung Kim, who picked up the award as most impressive player of the match, was nothing short of brilliant on this night, exhibiting a comprehensive all-around game that could only leave observers shaking their heads.

She finished with a match-high 22 points while Youn-Joo Hwang and Jeong-Ah Park added 13 and 12 points respectively for the winners. Captain Emilce Sosa and Lucia Fresco both had 12 points in the loss for Argentina.

Yeon-Koung Kim set the tone in the opening set with a couple of early spikes that staked her team to a 6-2 lead, prompting Argentina to call a timeout. Korea then ran off the next two points to lead 8-2 at the first TTO.

Yeon-Koung Kim, who previously played in Japan, also displayed a deft touch at the net, scoring with a nice dink to put her team up 10-3.

Argentina tried to slow the onslaught with another timeout while trailing 13-3, but it did not work. Korea led 16-5 at the second TTO with Yeon-Koung Kim arleady racking up seven points.

The Argentines battled back, scoring four straight points to make it 16-9, and Korea took a timeout of its own.

Jeong-Ah Park converted a nice spike out of the timeout to end the Argentina run.

A nice serve by Yeon-Koung Kim made it 23-14 for Korea, and they wrapped up the set 25-17 moments later.

The second set was much more competitive and featured some excellent rallies.

Argentine libero Lucia Gaido made a nice dig to keep the ball alive and her side then took the point and a 5-3 lead.

Korea scored the next three points to go ahead 6-5, but Argentina battled back in front 8-6 at the first TTO.

The Koreans then dug in and surged back in front 14-11 again behind the strong play of Yeon-Koung Kim.

With Korea in front 22-20, Yeon-Koung Kim appeared to score on a spike but was called for being over the net.

Argentina pulled to within a point at 23-22 when Hwang served into the net, then equalized 23-23 on a spike by Lucia Fresco.

With the score knotted 25-25, Yeon-Koung Kim rose high to deliver another spike for 26-25, but Argentina tied it again at 26-26.

Youn-Ok Choi then made a nice play to give Korea match point at 27-26, and a final spike gave Korea the set 28-26.

Argentina moved out to an 8-3 lead at the first TTO in the third set, with Korea looking tired after expending a lot of energy to hang on and take the second set.

Jeong-Ah Park made a nice block to cut the deficit to 11-5, and Yeon-Koung Kim followed with another sublime spike as Korea appeared to regain the momentum, reeling off five straight points.

Hwang's left-handed spike evened the score 12-12 as Korea continued its surge.

Sosa and Fresco showed their influence in the third set as both sides battled intensely.

A spike off an option play by Park tied it 19-19 as the seesaw set continued. The score was even at 23-23 when Korea took a timeout.

One more blast by Yeon-Koung Kim gave Korea match point and it ended shortly thereafter 25-23 when Fresco drilled a spike long.