Shuqun survive scare to overcome Xinmin 2-1 in U-13 girls volleyball semi-final

Story by Lai Jun Wei. Photos by Ng Cheng Cong and Lai Jun Wei.

Hougang Sports Hall, Saturday, November 29, 2008 – Shuqun Secondary survived repeated scares from Xinmin to eventually win 2-1 (22-25, 25-16, 15-12) in a semi-final of the 2008 National U-13 Girls Junior Volleyball Championship.

Shuqun #6 started off the game with a service ace which deflected off a Xinmin player. She scored two more points also with similar aces to put up three points for her team. However, Gabrielle’s (Shuqun, #10) spike from the centre found the net, putting an end to the scoring streak.

Shuqun did not give much chance, rattling up many points with their powerful serves. Early into the set, they led Xinmin 8-1. They seemed unstoppable as they soon rampaged off to a 11-5 lead.

But things seemed to suddenly take a turn as Xinmin went on a scoring streak to trail only by one. Shuqun’s coach had to call for a time out in an attempt to put an end to this, but it was ineffective as Kavis Koh’s (Shuqun, #6) spike from the outside was successfully blocked, to make it 11-11.

The score remained close, with Xinmin just one or two points behind Shuqun. Xinmin would briefly take the lead at times, but Shuqun would always quickly take it back.

However, one lead that Xinmin held on to was just not going to be retaken so easily. Towards the end, Xinmin broke away from Shuqun to lead at 20-17. Shuqun tried their best to fight back, but Xinmin would always remain just out of reach.

A serve into the net by Grace Hew (Shuqun, #7) did not help as they gave Xinmin a 23-20 lead. All hope seemed lost for Shuqun, but a serve from Rachael Ramachandran (Xinmin, #18) that went out of bounds brought Shuqun back into the game.

However, Xinmin slammed the next ball back into the centre of Shuqun’s court to bring the team to set point at 24-21. Xinmin were denied a quick win when Shuqun subsequently took the next point. But with the towering Xinmin #4, Qi Hui guarding the net, a bad ball from Shuqun saw it sent straight to her who flicked it back into Shuqun’s court, taking the last point for the set.

Like the first set, Shuqun quickly established an early lead at 10-2. But what remained to be seen was whether they would squander away their lead like in the first set.

Shuqun looked like they had the set in the bag when they led Xinmin 18-9. But bad luck struck Shuqun again as a resurgence from Xinmin saw them move to within reach of Shuqun at 19-15.

Shuqun held on, and were at set point after a net touch from Xinmin. Shuqun took home the last point when Rachael (Xinmin, #18) tried to hook the ball backwards to Shuqun’s court, but saw it find the net instead.

With each team having one set a piece, it was down to the rubber set to decide who would face off with Fairfield Methodist in the final. What seemed to be everyone’s mind was whether Shuqun would create that big early lead again like they had done in the first two sets.

However, it was not to be as Xinmin had the upperhand, leading 7-4.

Shuqun did not let down their pressure and eventually tied with Xinmin 7-7 when Tay Hui Xing (Xinmin, #17) sent a ball into the net. Shuqun subsequently took the next point to hold a one-point lead at the changeover.

Xinmin started to fumble at the worst of times as a series of touch outs and bad receives saw Shuqun lead 11-7. Xinmin were not going to go down without a fight, clawing their way up to 11-10.

Shuqun did not let this comeback affect them as they reached game point after a service ace by Rosanna Chua (Shuqun, #8). She served another ace which deflected off Xinmin #12, and took home the final point for her team to ensure Shuqun a place in the final.

Final score: 2-1 (22-25, 25-16, 15-12)

Shuqun will now play Fairfield Methodist in the final tomorrow, 30 November at Choa Chu Kang Sports Hall right after the 3/4th placing match between Anderson Secondary and Xinmin Secondary at 10.30am.

Shuqun would most probably be looking for a double win as both their boys and girls teams are in the final.

Good luck!

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!