Hwa Chong Institution win volleyball title for third year running with victory over Victoria Junior College

Story contributed by reader Jayalakshmy Aarthi, captain of the Hwa Chong Institution A Division team. Pictures by Tan Huey Ying.

A jubilant Hwa Chong team celebrate their win. (Photo 1 © Tan Huey Ying/Red Sports)

Toa Payoh Sports Hall, Thursday, May 15, 2008 – Our Hwa Chong Institution volleyball team beat Victoria Junior College 2-0 to win the A Division Girls Championship final earlier this month.

Having won the championship title last year for the second year running, our team and coach were set on winning the title for the third time. Training for the season started late last year in December, with our coach pacing us well for the season and at the same time, mentally preparing us for tough battles ahead.

We started off rather shakily at the beginning of the season, facing Temasek JC, Jurong JC, Yishun JC and Millenia Institute. Our on-court performance was not up to expectations. Despite that, we were fortunate to enter the quarter-finals where we faced St Andrew’s JC, Anglo-Chinese JC and Victoria JC. After a win against SAJC, we lost the first set in the match against ACJC. That match was a test of our tenacity and unity as a team. Thankfully, we managed to overcome the setback to win the game.

The last match against VJC in the quarter-finals was not easy. But our coach prepared us mentally and physically and we managed to beat VJC to proceed into the semi-finals against Anderson JC. AJC proved to be a challenge but we pulled through, meeting our goal of a straights-set semi-final win to qualify for the final.

Having expected to play Nanyang JC in the final throughout the whole season, we were shocked when we witnessed the 3-2 win by VJC over NYJC in the other semi-final. Nevertheless, we were determined not to be complacent, the unexpected loss of that first set to ACJC a constant reminder to us. Even though we had beaten VJC before, we had to be careful not to underestimate their abilities and morale, especially after their triumph over NYJC.

Facing VJC in the final, we played according to plan and performed well as a united team. By cutting down on our mistakes and capitalising on our opponents’, we eventually secured our final victory and concluded our season with the championship title.

VJC’s #6 Yuwen spikes past the HCI blocker. (Photo 2 © Tan Huey Ying/Red Sports)

VJC’s #11 Hui Shan clashes with a teammate to rescue a loose ball. (Photo 3 © Tan Huey Ying/Red Sports)

HCI’s #1 fires a ball at the VJC blocker. (Photo 4 © Tan Huey Ying/Red Sports)

Zoe Seet (#2, HCI) spikes while VJC’s Hui Shan (#11) and #5 attempt to block. (Photo 5 © Tan Huey Ying/Red Sports)

Yumei (#4, HCI) receives a ball. (Photo 6 © Tan Huey Ying/Red Sports)

VJC players on their knees after receiving a shot from HCI. (Photo 7 © Tan Huey Ying/Red Sports)

Yumei (#4, HCI) spikes away from the VJC blocker. (Photo 8 © Tan Huey Ying/Red Sports)

Ed’s note: If you recognise yourself or your teammates in any of the photos, feel free to leave the names behind in the comments section and we will update the captions accordingly. Thanks!