St. Hilda's B Division boys are national volleyball champions for the third consecutive year
Story by REDintern Alethia Tiang. Pictures by Koh Yizhe, Marvin Lowe/Red Sports. Video by Lai Jun Wei.
Xinmin #13 Deepak Rai spikes. (Photo 1 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall, Wednesday, April 8, 2009 - Seven-time champions since 1998, St. Hilda's Secondary School continued their National B Division Volleyball Championship reign for the third running year with their 3-1 (17-25, 25-14, 25-16, 25-15) triumph over Xinmin Secondary.
With their C Division boys’ victory the day before, the Xinmin B Division boys were looking to do a double.
St. Hilda's Sng Seng Whye (#11) spiked the ball into Xinmin's court to win their first point but as the game continued, both teams took turns to lead the set. It was Xinmin that eventually won the first set 25-17 to go up 1-0 overall.
A fierce spike by captain Benjamin Choo (#7) of St. Hilda's set off a run of seven consecutive points without reply from Xinmin. St. Hilda’s wrapped up the second set 25-14 to even it at 1-1.
A controversy in the third set over whether the ball spiked by Gilbert of Xinmin was in or out of bounds was eventually ruled in favour of St. Hilda’s. Frustrated, Xinmin lost three consecutive points.
However, Xinmin hauled themselves back from 2-8 to 10-14 but St. Hilda's stopped the rot and a final point scored by Kevin Chua (St. Hilda's, #3), wrapped it up 25-16 for a 2-1 overall lead.
With just one more set to wrap up the championship, St. Hilda's gained more confidence. Benjamin Choo won the first point against Xinmin but he got an immediate reply from Xinmin's Gilbert Toh who spiked past the block set up by St. Hilda's Cheong Hai Jing (#6) and Benjamin Choo. It was a tug-of-war with both teams trading points.
Then a sweaty spot on court proved Xinmin’s undoing. One of their players slipped and missed the ball with the score tied at 9-9. This gave St. Hilda's a 10-9 lead and they pulled further ahead to 15-11. With the momentum firmly in their favour now and they soon wrapped it up 25-15 to secure their third championship title in a row.
The Xinmin #7 Gilbert Toh spikes beyond the blocking St. Hilda’s defense while the St. Hilda’s #1 Jordan Toh gets ready to receive it. (Photo 2 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
The St. Hilda’s #11 Sng Seng Whye makes a successful block. (Photo 3 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
The St. Hilda’s #8 Lionel Khoo sets at a tough angle. (Photo 4 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
The St. Hilda’s #6 Cheong Hai Jing trying to spiking beyond the tall Xinmin #13 Deepak Rai. (Photo 5 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
The Xinmin #11 Ng Zi Hao sends a spike into the face of the St. Hilda’s #3 Kevin Chua. (Photo 6 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
The St. Hilda’s #1 Jordan Toh goes low to bump the ball up. (Photo 7 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
A St. Hilda’s player spike between Xinmin’s block. (Photo 8 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
A Xinmin spike just clears the St. Hilda’s block. (Photo 9 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
The Xinmin setter doing his thing. (Photo 10 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
A St. Hilda’s player stretching to receive a spike. (Photo 11 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
#13 of Xinmin, Deepak Rai, sending the ball past St. Hilda’s blockers in the first set. (Photo 12 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
The St. Hilda’s libero, Lionel Khoo finding it hard to receive a spike. (Photo 13 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
Xinmin #7 Gilbert Toh sneaking the ball through St. Hilda blockers. (Photo 14 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
#11 of Xinmin, Ng Zi Hao, sends the ball down the line. (Photo 15 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
A St. Hilda’s player choosing to play the ball over. (Photo 16 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
Jordan Toh, #1 of St. Hilda’s serving. (Photo 17 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
Benjamin Choo, #7 of St. Hilda’s spiking. (Photo 18 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
And he celebrates after winning a point. (Photo 19 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Abel Ang, #5 of St. Hilda’s spiking. (Photo 20 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Sng Seng Whye, 11 of St. Hilda’s jumping to block a spike. (Photo 21 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Abel Ang, #5 of St. Hilda’s eyes the ball and readies himself for the spike. (Photo 22 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
The St Hilda’s blockers brace themselves for the incoming spike. (Photo 23 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Sng Seng Whye, #11 of St. Hilda’s smashes a spike past the Xinmin blocker. (Photo 24 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
The St Hilda’s blockers stretching to block the ball. (Photo 25 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
We are Number One! The St Hilda’s team erupts in celebration. (Photo 26 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Champions! A St Hilda’s player celebrates emphatically, while another team mate breaks down in tears. (Photo 27 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
St. Hilda’s thanking their supporters. (Photo 28 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
Captain of St. Hilda’s with the trophy. (Photo 29 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Xinmin finished runners-up. (Photo 30 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Catholic High School finished third. (Photo 31 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Victoria School were fourth in the B Division. (Photo 32 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
St. Hilda’s -- B Division Volleyball Champions. (Photo 33 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Editor's note: If you recognise yourself or your teammates in any of the photos, please feel free to leave the names behind in the comments section and we will update accordingly. Thanks.
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