Jurong Secondary hold off Presbyterian High (Black) 3-0 to come in 3rd in U-16 volleyball

By Lai Jun Wei.

Choa Chu Kang Sports Hall, Sunday, November 16, 2008 – Jurong Secondary held off Presbyterian High (Black) to win 3-0 (25-23, 25-7, 26-24) in their 3rd/4th placing match of the 2008 National U-16 Girls Junior Volleyball Championship.

Jurong Secondary, the leaders of Group Y, had a heartbreaking loss to Group X runners up Ngee Ann Secondary in the semi-finals and so found themselves facing Presbyterian High (PHS). Having beaten PHS in Round 2 before, Jurong were favourites for this game but PHS did make it easy for Jurong and made them fight for every point.

The first point went to PHS when Jurong open spiker Cynthia’s (#12) tap from the outside found the net. However, she took the service back in the next point with a spike which deflected out of bounds off the PHS libero.

Jurong seemed to be struggling to find their form, allowing PHS to pull away to lead 11-6. But a ‘double’ committed by PHS setter gave Jurong a point and the serve. Jurong wasted no chances and blitzed ahead through Cynthia’s (Jurong, #12) steady serves. She scored four consecutive points, serving three aces out of four serves. Jurong were now trailing 10-11, prompting PHS to call for a timeout.

Upon resumption of the game, a net touch by Jurong gave Ngee Ann a 12-10 lead. PHS then surged further ahead to 20-17 when the PHS #16 spiked into the right corner of Jurong’s court. Jurong libero, Hui Ting (#1) clashed with a team mate to receive the ball but both failed to pick up the ball.

Jurong fought back. A spike from Siew Hoon (Jurong, #7) saw them tie it up 22-22. A service by the PHS #17 that went out of bounds then gifted Jurong the set point at 24-23 before Siew Hoon (Jurong, #7) finished off the set with a cross court spike from the outside.

Jurong found their form early in the second set as they stormed to a 6-0 lead. PHS only managed to get their first point when Cynthia (Jurong, #12) could not receive a spike. But it wasn’t long before Jurong took back the serve and built up a nine point lead at 11-2. A long rally ensued in the fight for the next point which only ended when Cynthia (Jurong, #12) spiked a ball out of bounds.

The sleeping giant was awoken as Jurong were unstoppable in this set. Their spikes were pin point accurate and their steady serves often left PHS unable to organise an attack. PHS defense weakened and their receiving were all awry.

Though Jurong committed the occasional slip ups, it was not significant enough for PHS to close the gap.

Jurong hit the 20 point mark at 20-4 when PHS committed a net touch and an offensive drop shot by the PHS #13 from the centre was deemed a ‘holding’ give Jurong a 24-7 lead. Jurong wrapped it up without doing anything when the PHS #14 spiked into the net.

Two sets up, Jurong were now on track to finish the game. Cheryl (Jurong, #11) took the first point with a spike from the centre and like the second set, Jurong charged ahead to a 7-1 lead, with Qiuyun (Jurong, #6) and Cynthia (Jurong, #12) contributing several points.

However, service errors and several blunders after that allowed PHS to catch up. Jurong messed up a ball and this allowed PHS to come within one point 16-17. However, the PHS #2 served into the net to allow Jurong to increase their lead to 18-16.

PHS, probably just glad to have come so far, were having fun as they played their hearts out. They smiled and laughed throughout the game, a contrast to the stressed out and serious looking Jurong team.

The PHS #14 and libero were playing their hearts out, diving to receive many Jurong attacks. Their relaxed mood probably allowed them to play better and catch up at 22-22 when the PHS #4 served a ball which just clipped the boundaries of Jurong’s service line to remain in.

For the first time in the set, PHS took the lead at 23-22 when Qiuyun (Jurong, #6) spiked a ball out. But a PHS free-ball from one end of the court to the other end of the court went wrong when it went out of bounds.

Tensions were high as the game was down to the wire with both teams tied at 24-24 for deuce. The PHS #16 tried to dunk a second ball but it went into the net to bring Jurong to set point. Cynthia (Jurong, #12) then took home the last point with a cross court spike which deflected off a PHS player and out of bounds to wrap up third place for her team.

Final score: 3-0 (25-23, 25-7, 26-24)

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