Hwa Chong Institution hold off Nanyang JC to emerge champions in A Division boys volleyball after nine years

By Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports.

Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall, Monday, May 18, 2009 – Hwa Chong Institution prevented Nanyang Junior College from achieving a championship double, and a third consecutive title when they overcame the two-time defending champion 3-1 (27-29, 25-12, 25-16, 25-20) in the A Division Boys Volleyball Championship final. It was sweet victory for Hwa Chong, as they clinched the championship trophy once again after a nine year drought. They had last won back in 1999 when they were still known as Hwa Chong Junior College.

Ong Jun Feng (NYJC, #12) gave HCI the first point when he served out. However, Melvin Goh (HCI, #7) returned the favour when his jump serve found the net. A series of spikes sent out of bounds by Samuel Ng (HCI, #8) saw NYJC take a 5-1 lead. Galvin Lim (HCI, #18) stopped NYJC’s scoring streak with a quick ball.

However, Tan Zi Jie’s (HCI, #10) subsequent spike found the NYJC block for NYJC to continue raking up points. A frustrated HCI coach had to call for a time out when the score hit 9-4, right after his team rescued a blocked shot, but sent it out of bounds.

Upon the restart, HCI successfully blocked a spike by NYJC to start their catchup. Soon after, HCI were one point away from NYJC after a jump serve from Galvin. A subsequent jump serve which clipped the white tape to roll into NYJC’s court tied the score at 14-14.

NYJC’s coach tactically called a time out in a bid to break HCI’s momentum, but it was to no avail as Galvin scored another point with yet another serve. However, his next serve found the net to level the score at 15-15.

It was a close fight, as NYJC edged forward, reaching set point after a light tap caught the HCI backrow unprepared. However, a net touch by NYJC prevented a quick win. More trouble came, as HCI’s rotation saw Galvin take the serve.

Galvin’s jump serve deflected out of bounds off a NYJC player to bring the score to 22-24. Two good spikes by Samuel Ng deuced the set at 24-24. The next few rallies were nerve wrecking, as each team refused to give in, forcing touch outs from the other.

At 27-27, Melvin spiked into the NYJC block for his opponent to gain an advantage. Melvin unfortunately spiked his next shot into the NYJC block again for NYJC to take the set.

The second set saw NYJC take the first point with a net touch from HCI. Off a freeball by Zi Jie, Lim Chun Wei (NYJC, #7) thundered the ball into an empty spot to take the second point. The scores remained close as both teams kept pace with each other.

HCI managed to hold on to a slender lead amidst the tight pursuit of NYJC. At 7-6, HCI’s libero Wlilcon Tham received a NYJC serve, unexpectedly sending it over. The NYJC players were caught unprepared, but took the next point after a good spike.

However, things were not to be for long as HCI retook control to storm to a 11-7 lead. A frustrated NYJC coach called for a time out to reorganise the team. It was to no avail as HCI stepped up the pressure and raced to an overwhelming 20-9 lead.

Galvin contacted the net on the next rally to temporarily stop HCI’s scoring streak. But he subsequently forced a spike through the NYJC block for Melvin to serve. NYJC picked up Melvin’s jump serve, only to send it straight into the hands of a waiting Galvin, who slammed the ball back to NYJC’s court.

Wong Ying Fu (NYJC, #1) was fouled on a net violation on the next rally to see the score at 23-10. Melvin took another point with his jump serve when NYJC libero Muhammad Syafiq could not get to the ball. Syafiq was the target of many serves, as HCI forced many touch outs from him.

But HCI found themselves waiting just a little while longer for the win when a player contacted the net. On the next rally, the ball was set for Samuel, who fired the ball down to the line, but was ruled out of bounds. He tried again on the next point, making no mistake as he sent it straight into a NYJC player who deflected it into the post.

HCI was brimming with confidence after thrashing NYJC in the second set. Going all out, Galvin intercepted a ball at the net to score one for his team. However, Samuel spiked an out ball and one into the net for NYJC to take the lead. But Galvin took back the point when he spiked into an empty spot in NYJC’s court while the blockers were distracted by a decoy.

The score remained close until 5-4 when Samuel spiked to an empty spot in the left corner to start HCI’s scoring run. The next point saw NYJC try to force a touch out from HCI’s blocker, only to have the latter avoid the trap. Melvin then forced a touch out from NYJC to bring the score to 8-4.

After several rallies, HCI brought the score to 21-11, with a time out by NYJC at 17-10 not enough to break their momentum. They were soon at set point after Galvin executed a drop shot to an empty spot.

Galvin was unfortunately the target of a spike in the next NYJC attack as the ball found his face while he was blocking to deflect out of bounds. A line fault at the net by HCI saw the score stand at 24-16. Melvin took the set when he spiked straight down the line from the opposite end with no answer from NYJC.

The fourth set was a hotly contested one as NYJC was trying their best to prevent HCI from taking the set and the win. Scores remained close in this set, with HCI maintaining only a slender lead as NYJC was constantly hot on their heels.

Several time-outs were called as each team reorganised to tried and break the stalemate. As the score progressed closer to the 25 point mark, everyone was on the edge of their seats as the set was going down to the wire. A quick ball by HCI saw them take a two point lead at 22-20, leading to a time out by NYJC. NYJC’s subsequent spike that went out of bounds saw HCI closer to victory.

With Melvin holding serve, confidence was high. True enough, his serve was unable to be received by NYJC and HCI was brought to match point. Melvin fired off another jump serve which saw NYJC send it straight into the hands of a waiting HCI blocker. Without any hesitation, the ball was fired back into the NYJC court for HCI to seal the win.

Final score: 3-1 (27-29, 25-12, 25-16, 25-20)

HCI players
Samuel Ng
Tan Zi Jie
Yu Chen Xing
Lennis Seow
Galvin Lim
Soon Kian Keong
Tan Rui Yong
Melvin Goh
Glenn Lee
Wang Khan Lie
Kenneth Gwee
Wilcon Tham

NYJC players
Wong Ying Fu
Chow Ming Hui
Clarence Lee
Yeo Kai Shian
Tan Yun Sheng
Lim Chun Wei
Muhammad Syafiq
Tan Wei Jie
Ong Jun Feng
Ong Jian Yu
Gan Hong Zho

More pictures in the gallery.