Xinmin overcome Shuqun Secondary to come in 3rd in U-16 volleyball

Story by Claira Ng and Eileen. Photos by Lai Jun Wei and Eileen.

Choa Chu Kang Sports Hall, Sunday, 16 November, 2008 – Xinmin Secondary came back from one set down to beat Shuqun Secondary 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-15) in the 3rd/4th placing match of the 2008 National U-16 Boys Junior Volleyball Championship.

Xinmin took the first point when Lawrence Tan (Shuqun, #4) spiked a ball out of bounds but Brandy Seah (Shuqun, #1) equalised with a spike from the back court. Both teams were tied until the 4-4 mark, when Shuqun started to pull ahead to 12-9 with Xinmin playing catch up.

Xinmin were struggling to find their form as they committed several faults to allow Shuqun to to pull ahead. Shuqun eventually built up a six point lead at 20-14 when the Xinmin #13 failed to hit a ball over. The Shuqun lead was further extended when the Xinmin libero could not receive a serve by Lawrence (Shuqun, #4).

Xinmin managed a last ditch effort to rake up a few points but a spike from Lawrence Tan (Shuqun, #4) from the back court brought Shuqun to set point. Shuqun wrapped up the first set when Brandy (Shuqun, #1) spiked a ball towards Andy (Xinmin, #8) who could only touch it out.

Xinmin however started off strong in the second set, storming off to a 6-0 lead. Shuqun only got their first point when the Xinmin libero assumed a Shuqun spike was out and did not attempt to play it.

Even so, Xinmin managed to maintain a comfortable lead. Shuqun on the other hand seemed to be struggling in their attacks, several of them going out of bounds. Xinmin led 22-15 when Brandy (Shuqun, #1) spiked into the hands of the Xinmin blockers.

Xinmin were soon at set point after a quick ball by their #13 saw it clip the boundaries of the court to remain in. But Shuqun were not going to give Xinmin an easy win as they fought hard to close the gap.

Xinmin on the other hand shot themselves in the foot when they gifted Shuqun three points. One was through a spike that went out, another from a missed serve and the other through a formation error. Xinmin woke up in time to prevent Shuqun from catching up further when they finished off the set with a spike.

Like the second set, Xinmin built up an early lead at 10-4 but Shuqun clawed their way back to 9-10 when a back court spike from Shuqun saw Andy (Xinmin, #8) struggle to receive.

Shuqun stayed close behind Xinmin but just could not overtake them. Point for point, they edged up slowly towards the end of the set. Xinmin reached set point when the Shuqun #13 was unable to spike over. The Xinmin #7 then took home the set with a spike that Lawrence (Shuqun, #4) was unable to receive properly.

With a 2-1 lead over Shuqun, Xinmin just need to win the fourth set to win the game. The took the first point with a spike that rebounded off the Shuqun blockers and into the Shuqun court.

For a brief moment, Shuqun and Xinmin were tied at 3-3, but the latter surged ahead leaving Shuqun trailing behind. Once they were on form, they were unstoppable as they gradually built up a significant lead over Shuqun.

A Xinmin spike at 20-14 into Shuqun #12’s face brought the team just four points away for a win. They were brought to game point when the Shuqun #8 committed a net touch.

Xinmin wrapped it up the set and match when Andy (#8) spiked a ball that was deflected out of bounds off the Shuqun blockers.

Final score: 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-15)

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!