Jurong beat Bukit Panjang Govt High 2-1 in West Zone B Division Girls Volleyball semi-final thriller

By Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports.

Hua Yi Secondary, Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - Jurong Secondary came back from one set down to beat Bukit Panjang Government High 2-1 (24-26, 27-25, 25-23) in a closely contested semi-final match of the B Division Girls West Zone Volleyball Championship. Bukit Panjang had earlier beaten Shuqun Secondary 2-0 to top their group, whereas Jurong lost to Nanyang Girls' High 2-0 to finish second.

Jurong blitzed to an early 5-0 lead right from the start. Zi Qing (Jurong, #8) contributed many of the points with her spikes and blocks. Bukit Panjang on the other hand had difficulty settling down, and trailed 3-13 when their team called for a time out. Jurong had to call for a time out of their own when several few mistakes allowed Bukit Panjang to close the gap to 16-9. However, it was to no avail as Bukit Panjang continued raking points to eventually tie with Jurong at 23-23.

For the first time, the lead changed hands after Li Bing (Jurong, #9) spiked into the net. Qiuyun (Jurong, #6) saw her spike stuffed out by Jia Yu's (Bukit Panjang, #3) block for Bukit Panjang to reach set point. Bukit Panjang were on a run to steal the set, but Qiuyun held off Bukit Panjang's win when a high spike landed in an empty zone near the backline to bring the set to a deuce.

Farah (Bukit Panjang, #5) spiked the ball down hard at the next rally to bring her team to set point again. It was a tight rally for the next point, and a contest at the net saw Jurong lose the ball, and the set, to Bukit Panjang 24-26.

With their morale running high after stealing the first set, Bukit Panjang were all set to take the game. Jurong took a slender lead in the early moments, with Bukit Panjang not far behind. Bukit Panjang kept the pressure on Jurong, but Jurong continued to hold off their opponents' advances. With the score increasing steadily, Li Bing was substituted off for Hui Ting (Jurong, #1) to continue the fight. A good spike into the right back corner by Jurong tricked Bukit Panjang into believing it was out of bounds, and saw the score stand at 23-20.

After a time out by Bukit Panjang, Zi Qing (Jurong, #8) could not spike over to see Bukit Panjang draw closer. However, she made amends and executed a well-placed drop shot just beside the blocking Farah (Bukit Panjang, #5). With Jurong at set point, Rachel (Jurong, #10) unfortunately spiked an ´out ball', for Farah (Bukit Panjang, #5) to serve. Applying pressure with her serve, she forced the score to 24-23. Jia Yu (Bukit Panjang, #3) then spiked to the backline, for the game to enter a deuce.

A series of tight rallies ensued, leaving everyone at the edge of their seats. With the score level at 25-25, it was a drop shot by Qiuyun (Jurong, #6) that brought the team to set point again. In the fight for the last point, Rachel spiked a cross court shot from the outside, and out of reach of Bukit Panjang, to take the set 27-25 for her team.

In the nerve-wracking rubber set, both teams continued to keep the pressure on each other with both teams within touching distance of each other. Several times, the score was tied, and the tension could be cut with a knife.

At the changeover, Jurong led 13-9. It was to be shortlived as Bukit Panjang fought back. To add to Jurong's woes, Zi Qing (Jurong, #8) had to be substituted momentarily for ankle trouble. Bukit Panjang saw the score level at 15-15 after the Jurong #2 sent a drop shot straight into Farah's (Bukit Panjang, #5) block.

A timeout by Jurong was quickly called, and Zi Qing (Jurong, #8) was sent back on. Bukit Panjang took the lead after Farah (#5) successfully blocked a shot by Jurong, to the protest of Jurong. Jurong felt that Farah committed a violation by reaching over the net to touch the ball while their player was still getting to it. However, the appeal was to no avail and Bukit Panjang took yet another point to lead 17-15.

Jurong pressed on, with Zi Qing (#8) and Qiuyun (#6) pumping down shots into the Bukit Panjang half. The scores were neck and neck, and Jurong leveled the score at 23-23 after Qiuyun's (Jurong, #6) spike into Bukit Panjang's block deflected back into Bukit Panjang's own court.

Qiuyun (Jurong, #6) then executed a well-placed drop shot for the team to reach game point. With Cynthia (Jurong, #11) on the serve, everybody was on the edge of their seats as they watched the action unfold. As Cynthia's serve sailed over, Bukit Panjang's libero, Yuanteng, was on hand to receive the ball. Much to Bukit Panjang's dismay, the return went awry and straight towards the net instead. Bukit Panjang's setter tried her best to rescue it, but it was to no avail as the point, and the game, were awarded to Jurong.

Jurong Secondary will take on Nanyang Girls' High in the West Zone final on Friday, February 19, at 1pm. Bukit Panjang Government High will play Shuqun Secondary on Friday, February 12 in the 3/4th placing match at 3.15pm. Both matches will be held at Choa Chu Kang Sports Hall.

Jurong 2 Bukit Panjang 1
(24-26, 27-25, 25-23)

Editor’s note: If you recognise yourself or any of your team mates in the photos, please feel free to leave the names behind and we will update accordingly. Thanks!