Nanyang Girls’ defeat Jurong to start B Division volleyball quarter-finals on positive note

By Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

nanyang girls vs jurong volleyball

Lim Ziqing (Jurong #8) spikes past Eleanor Chua (Nanyang #1). (Photo 1 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)

Presbyterian High School, Tuesday, March 23, 2010 - Nanyang Girls' High started their quarter-finals campaign on a positive note as they beat Jurong Secondary 2-0 (25-17, 26-24) in the National B Division Girls Volleyball Championship. It must certainly have been sweet revenge for Nanyang as Jurong had denied them the West Zone Championship crown when they met at the final earlier in the year.

Nanyang opened set with an ace from Chan Chuning (Nanyang #5). Eleanor Chua (Nanyang #1) then took the next point with a spike to the left, which Cynthia Lai (Jurong #11) was unable to get. Lim Ziqing (Jurong #8) saw her spike go into the net on the next rally for Nanyang to take a 3-0 lead.

However, she took back service with a cross court spike from the outside, with Chuning's (Nanyang #5) one-hand receive deflecting the ball out of bounds. Jurong caught up quickly with Nanyang, and went one point up, but had to see the scores level again at 5-5 after setter Goh Ee Jin (Jurong #7) served into the net.

From then on, the scores were kept very close, with both teams leveling at several points in the game. Finally, Nanyang manage to take a slender lead at 16-13, leading to Jurong to call for a time out.

Upon resumption, Low Yiyuan (Nanyang #3) fired off a serve which saw Rachel (Jurong #10) unable to get. Chuning (Nanyang #5) then spiked off Qiuyun's (Jurong #6) block to extend Nanyang's lead to 18-13.

Able to get their momentum going, Nanyang stepped up to their game. Coupled with a few unforced errors stemming from Jurong's serve, Nanyang soon saw themselves at set point. But Jurong were not going to concede so early. Jiang Qiuyun (Jurong #6) spiked towards Vanessa Neo (Nanyang #4), who deflected it out of bounds to see Jurong bring the score to 24-16. Ziqing (Jurong #8) held off Nanyang's win with a light spike from the opposite corner.

However, Eleanor (Nanyang #1) sealed the set with a spike from the centre to Cynthia (Jurong #11), who deflected it out.

Ziqing (Jurong #8) took the first point of the second set with a spike from the outside. Jurrong seemed to have found themselves in this set and took point after point. They quickly pulled to an 8-3 lead, leading Nanyang to play catch up.

Nanyang proved just what defending champions were made of and fought hard, drawing close to Jurong. They finally tied the game at 11-11 after a well executed drop ball by Chuning (Nanyang #5). Chuning (Nanyang #5) then spiked off the Jurong block for Nanyang to steal the lead.

A series of exciting rallies ensued, with the lead changing hands several times. Finally, after the scores were tied at the 17-17 mark, Jurong pulled forward, and was at 23-17 after Chuning (Nanyang #5) was fouled for a ´holding'.

A timeout was called by Nanyang, and this marked the start of their comeback. Nanyang erased Jurong's lead to eventually level at 23-23 after Eleanor (Nanyang #1) successfully blocked a spike from Qiuyun (Jurong #6).

Eleanor (Nanyang #1) sent a strong spike into the Jurong court to bring the team to match point. However, Rachel (Jurong #10) held off Nanyang's win with a spike into an empty spot. With the match entering a deuce, Jurong gave Nanyang the advantage when Qiuyun (Jurong #6) served out.

Nanyang took the second set, and the game after a spike by Jurong went out of bounds.

Final score: Nanyang 2 Jurong 0
(25-17, 26-24)

Nanyang and Jurong are drawn in Group Y alongside Dunman Secondary and Shuqun Secondary. Nanyang will play Shuqun on Thursday, March 25 at 1pm. Jurong will then face Dunman at 1.50pm. Both matches will be played at CCAB.

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

nanyang girls vs jurong volleyball