Kyle Russell Returns to V-League: What This Means for OK Savings Bank’s 2026 Season

Russell / Photo: Provided by KOVO

By Shin Seo-young, Sports Today — Kyle Russell (registered name Russell; USA) is returning to the V-League after signing with OK Savings Bank.

The Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) held the 2026 KOVO men’s foreign-player draft on May 10 (Korean time) at the Clarion Congress Hotel in Prague, Czech Republic.

With the No. 1 overall pick, OK Savings Bank selected Russell as expected. The opposite hitter stands 6 ft 9 in (206 cm) and was widely regarded as the top prospect at the tryout, having already proven himself on the V-League stage.

Russell made his V-League debut with Korea Electric Power in the 2020–21 season and played for Samsung Fire in 2021–22.

After stints in France, Italy and Greece, he returned to the V-League in March 2025 with Korean Air.

Russell stayed with Korean Air for the 2025–26 season and helped lead the team to the top spot in the regular season. In 35 matches he scored 673 points (ranked 6th) and posted a 50.78% attack success rate (6th). He also led the league in service points, averaging 0.551 per set.

Late in the season, however, fatigue affected his play, and Korean Air replaced its foreign player with José Massó (Cuba) ahead of the championship finals. Russell ultimately left the club without sharing in the team’s overall title.

Entering this season’s draft, Russell made another bid to stay in the V-League and announced a fresh start after being taken No. 1 overall by OK Savings Bank.

Seven clubs participated in the draft. Hyundai Capital, Woori Card and Korea Electric Power re-signed Leonardo Leiva Martínez (registered name Leo), Rafael Araujo (registered name Araujo) and Sheron Venon Evans (registered name Venon), respectively.

Meanwhile, OK Savings Bank, Samsung Fire, Korean Air and KB Insurance parted ways with their previous foreign players and moved to bring in new imports.

With the No. 2 pick, Samsung Fire selected Felipe Hoki (Brazil, 6 ft 11 in / 212 cm), a player capable of filling both the opposite and outside roles.

Last season’s overall champions, Korean Air, secured the No. 3 pick and called up Canadian outside hitter and opposite Zander Ketzinski (6 ft 10 in / 207 cm).

Finally, KB Insurance used its selection on German opposite Linus Weber (6 ft 8 in / 203 cm).

[Sports Today reporter Shin Seo-young sports@stoo.com]
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