St Hilda’s Secondary beat Yishun Town to win U-16 boys volleyball championship

Story by Eileen Tan and Claira Ng. Photos by Joan Mak and Lai Jun Wei.

Choa Chu Kang Sports Hall, Sunday, November 16, 2008 – St. Hilda’s Secondary beat Yishun Town Secondary 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-21) to win the 2008 National U-16 Boys Junior Volleyball Championship. Having won last year's U-16 Championship and this year's B Division Championship, they are on track to retain their B Division title next year.

St Hilda’s (SHS) gained the first point when Esmond (YTS #7) spiked a ball out. However, YTS quickly won their first point when Yu Chao (YTS #2) carried out a well placed drop shot.

Both teams stayed neck and neck until 6-6 when YTS started to pull ahead to build a comfortable four-point lead at 13-9. YTS managed to hold off SHS for several points, but SHS fought back with some well-placed attacks to even it at 19-19 at a critical moment.

SHS then gained the upper hand and were soon at set point after a net touch by Ferdinand (YTS #3). They were gifted the last point when Esmond’s (YTS #7) spike found the net.

SHS #7 grabbed the first point of the second set for his team with a thunder spike into the YTS court. But Esmond (YTS #7) forced a touch out from SHS to take their first point. But this set did not seem like it would be as close as the first set as SHS quickly stormed to a 6-2 lead.

They held on to a comfortable lead until a series of blunders gave YTS the chance to catch up. A holding error by SHS saw YTS snatch the lead from them at 12-11.

SHS quickly levelled with a shot that saw Ernest of YTS try to save the ball but to no avail.

YTS were not going to let SH pull away to another huge lead again as they fought hard to keep the scores tied right until 21-21. Everyone was on the edge of their seats as the set could go to either team.

The stalemate was broken when Junze of YTS spiked into the net, and a subsequent YTS spike was blocked successfully by SHS. A ‘double’ by Ferdinand of YTS made things worse and SHS were now at set point at 24-21.

Yuchao of YTS was not going to see his team go down so quickly. He retaliated with a spike which no player from SHS was able to receive.

But any resistance that YTS was planning to put up was left on hold when SHS ended the set with a spike that just clipped the boundaries of the court to remain in.

By the third set, SHS was all fired up and ready to go for the win. After a brief tie at 2-2, SHS powered ahead to a nine-point lead at 11-2. SHS continued to show their might as the reigning U-16 champions, raking up point after point.

By the 18-9 mark, SHS were expected to take the set comfortbaly. But a turn of events saw SHS almost squander their lead away and force the game into a fourth set.

A series of spiking errors from SHS saw YTS inch closer to SHS and eventually pull to within three points of SHS at 17-20.

Leading 23-18, the SHS #15 was unable to receive a spike from Isaac (YTS #18), and were denied a quick win. YTS continued to hold off SHS, blocking out SHS at the 24-20 mark to make them wait just a little longer for the win.

But SHS #7 silenced all opposition with a thunderous spike from the centre to the left corner of YTS’ court, sealing the game to give his team the trophy once again.

Final score: 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-21)

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!