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Staff Reporter
Korean star volleyball player Kim Yeon-koung will play another season in Japan.
The Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders, Kim's Korean side, said Tuesday that they agreed on a loan deal with the JT Marvelous, Kim's Japanese side, to let her play there for one more year.
Detailed terms and conditions were not revealed at the request of the Marvelous, but they guaranteed top-level treatment of the Korean sensation, the Pink Spiders said.
The decision comes as a surprise as the Pink Spiders faltered last season without the key attacker, falling to make fourth place out of the five clubs in the Korean volleyball league.
Kim, a towering 1.92-meter spiker, was a pivotal member in leading her clubs in both countries to the top spot.
JT, which were ninth out of the 10 clubs in the previous V. Premier League season, went a surprising 26-2 in the regular season with Kim spearheading their offense. The team, however, ended up runners-up after a stunning loss to the Toray Arrows in the championship final.
Before going to Japan, Kim played for the Pink Spiders for four seasons between 2005 and 2009, leading them to claim three championship titles and one runners-up place.
Last season, the 22-year-old scored 696 points in total, with 630 from spikes, to top the league in both categories. Kim was named the best import player, and also made it to the league's best-six squad.
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