Story by Koh Yizhe/Red Sports. Pictures by Lai Jun Wei.

Presbyterian High School, Friday, April 3, 2009 – Shuqun Secondary School came back from a set down and survived a Fairfield Methodist revival to claim third place in the National C Division Girls Volleyball Championship with a hard earned five set win over Fairfield Methodist Secondary School. They won 3-2 (20-25, 25-20, 25-16, 16-25, 15-9).

Despite losing the first two points thanks to some uncontrollable spikes from Fairfield, Shuqun was able to bounce back to take a quick 6-2 lead in the first set.

Some cheap mistakes at the net by Shuqun, however, allowed Fairfield to sneak back into the set and take the lead again at 9-8. Both teams began to trade points as each fought to take the lead, but it was Fairfield who managed to do so with Kavis Koh (Shuqun, #6) sending the ball into the net to give Fairfield set point at 24-19.

Despite Gabrielle (Shuqun, #10) saving one point, she was helpless as Fairfield's tall middle hitter Jia Le (Fairfield, #9) made a successful block to give her side the first set at 25-20.

Shuqun came out fighting in the second set as they easily took the first point. This was followed by Jermain (Fairfield, #16) sending a strong spike into the net. #14 of Fairfield was unable to control a spike as she deflected it out to give Shuqun a 3-0 lead. With Shuqun extending their lead to five points, Fairfield coach called for a timeout to regroup.

The timeout seemed to do wonders for Fairfield as a spike from Jermain gave them the first point of the set at 5-1. She then served a series of powerful serves to drag her team back into the match at 6-7. That was however as close Fairfield got to Shuqun as stormed ahead and soon found themselves at set point after Jia Le (Fairfield, #9) failed to block an unstoppable spike.

Gabrielle (Shuqun, #10) then rounded things up with a spike to give Shuqun the second set 25-20 and to level things with one set apiece.

Shuqun followed the good work done in the second set as Kavis Koh (Shuqun, #6) started the third with a strong serve and Rosanna Chua (Shuqun, #8) gave Shuqun a 2-0 lead with a spike of her own. What followed as a tight set with both teams taking turns to take the lead until 16-16 when Rosanna Chua (Shuqun, #8) sent a serve that Adeline (Fairfield, #6) couldn't control giving Shuqun the edge at 17-16.

They then went on to score eight straight points to take the third set 25-16.

It looked like Shuqun would wrap up the match in the fourth set, but Jermain (Fairfield, #16) wouldn't let that happen. Although Shuqun had the first point with a Rosanna Chua (Shuqun, #8) spike, Jermain was strong in the middle as she sent two powerful spikes down the middle to give her team the lead at 2-1.

She continued her burst of form with spikes down the middle as the teams both traded points. It was until at 14-14 did Fairfield begin to sprint ahead till 18-14 when Shuqun called for a timeout.

The timeout, however, did little to change the direction of the set as Fairfield extended their lead with Gabrielle (Shuqun, #10) spiking against the net, giving Fairfield match point at 24-16. Jia Le (Fairfield, #9) ended the set with a spike that Shuqun couldn't receive.

Things looked good for Shuqun at the start of the rubber set as they jumped to a 5-0 lead prompting a timeout from Fairfield. The Fairfield however, were unable to handle Shuqun's spikes as they extended their lead to 11-6. Although another timeout was called, the end came quick when Kavis Koh (Shuqun, #6) send a cross court spike to give her side match point at 14-9.

When Fairfield #11 failed to tip the ball over the net, Shuqun won the final set 15-9, claiming third place in the C Division Volleyball Championships.

The final match will be between Cedar Girls and Anderson Secondary on Tuesday, 7 April, 1pm at Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall.

Final score: 3-2 (20-25, 25-20, 25-16, 16-25. 15-9)

More pictures in the gallery.