Nanyang Girls’ start C Division volleyball quarter-final campaign with win over Ngee Ann

By Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

Presbyterian High School, Monday, March 22, 2010 - Nanyang Girls' High started their National C Division Volleyball Championship quarter-final campaign on a high as they swept aside Ngee Ann Secondary 2-0 (25-12, 25-18) in their first Group X match.

Goh Jia Min (Nanyang #1) took the first two points for the team with good spikes from the outside. Despite her spike in the next rally finding the net, she took back service with a spike to the far corner. Nanyang quickly blitzed to a 7-2 lead, leading to a time-out by Ngee Ann.

However, it failed to break Nanyang's momentum as they continued their scoring streak. Ngee Ann had trouble organizing a substantial attack against Nanyang, and the latter increased their lead to a staggering 13 points at 17-4. A time-out by Ngee Ann could not give them any reprieve as Nanyang continued increasing their lead when the Ngee Ann #9 spiked out.

Ngee Ann saw Nanyang's scoring streak come to an end when Lee Aow See (Nanyang #3) was caught out of position, and sent her spike into a net from a set that had gone awry. However, she quickly took the next point, and scored two additional points for the team with her spikes from the outside.

Unfortunately, her spike into the net at the subsequent rally saw Ngee Ann take a point to make the score 21-6. Ngee Ann were not going to let the huge score gap get them down and, coupled with mistakes from Nanyang, managed to rake in some points to see the score stand at 23-9.

The Ngee Ann #5 then took another point for the team when she hooked the ball backwards into an empty spot, catching the Nanyang team off guard. The Ngee Ann #10 then spiked to the Nanyang back line to see the score reach 23-12.

After a time-out by Nanyang, Jia Min (Nanyang #1) executed a drop ball off the Ngee Ann block to bring the team to set point. Koh Yi Ying (Nanyang #6) then took the last point for the team when her return went straight back into the Ngee Ann court, catching the team off guard.

Ngee Ann went all out in the second set. The set started with several rallies, with Nanyang holding the lead. Nanyang could not break free from Ngee Ann and did not command as huge a lead as in the first set.

The score was kept relatively close with Nanyang leading up to 18-16. Then Ngee Ann #9 served out to see Nanyang go another point up. Ngee Ann however took back service when Gwyneth Teo (Nanyang #8) spiked out. The Ngee Ann #10 then brought the team to just one point from Nanyang when she spun a spike to the left corner.

Nanyang were not going to let Ngee Ann stage a comeback and quickly surged forward. Jia Min (Nanyang #1) brought the team to match point after forcing a touch-out with her serve. Aow See (Nanyany #3) sealed the game when her spike into the Ngee Ann #7 deflected out of bounds.

Final score: 2-0 (25-12, 25-18)

Nanyang and Ngee Ann are drawn in Group X alongside Hua Yi Secondary and Dunman Secondary. Nanyang will play Hua Yi Secondary on Thursday, March 25 at 2.40pm. Ngee Ann will then fight it out with Dunman Secondary at 3.30pm. Both matches will be played at CCAB.

The B and C Division Girls matches will be played at both Presbyterian High and CCAB.

More photos in the gallery.

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

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