Dunman overcome Nanyang Girls' to top Group Y in B Division volleyball quarter-finals

By Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

Presbyterian High School, Monday, March 29, 2010 - Dunman Secondary overcame Nanyang Girls' High 2-1 (25-23, 21-25, 25-14) to top Group Y in the B Division Girls volleyball quarter-finals.

Both teams had already qualified for the semi-finals after winning their previous two matches.

Nanyang took the first point of the game after Jia En (Dunman #2) spiked out. However, she spiked through the block to take back a point for the team. Dunman took an early lead at 5-2, but Nanyang soon caught up. The scores were leveled at 8-8 after Chuning (Nanyang #5) spiked to the far corner. Nanyang went one up after Chuning (Nanyang #5) spiked off the block into an empty spot.

The scores were very close, with the teams tied at several points. Nanyang did not seem to be going all out to rescue stray balls or Dunman's drop shots. Dunman used this to their advantage and broke free after the 16-16 mark. They took a slender 19-17 lead, before Nanyang called for a time out.

However, Dunman pressed hard, and sought to extend their lead. Nanyang were facing problems in receiving Dunman's serve. Soon, Dunman extended their lead to 23-18. However, two well placed spikes by Chuning (Nanyang #5) saw them narrow the score gap to just three points. Eleanor (Nanyang #1) then narrowed the gap even further with a drop shot, and a well placed ball.

Dunman called for a time out, and upon resumption, Huijie (Dunman #7) spiked a cross court shot to bring the team to set point. Unfortunately, Weiyu (Dunman #3) served into the net to hold off the win. Jia En (Dunman #2) took home the set after she spiked off Eleanor's (Nanyang #1) block, with Nanyang unable to return the shot.

The second set started off as closely as the first. Both teams traded points and were never far from each other. Twice in the set, Dunman took a lead only to see Nanyang catch up again. After being held 14-14, Dunman stepped on the pedal to lead 17-14, leading to a time out from Nanyang.

They held onto their lead to see the score stand at 21-18. Nanyang then scored three consecutive points to see the score stand at 21-21. Nanyang turned the tables on Dunman when Eleanor (Nanyang #1) blocked a drop shot from Weiyu (Dunman #3).

Dunman called for a time out, but Nanyang extended their lead after Eleanor (Nanyang #1) blocked Huijie's (Dunman #7) spike. Nanyang saw themselves at set point after Huijie (Dunman #7) spiked into the net. Nanyang took the set after Eleanor (Nanyang #1) forced a return into the Dunman setter Claira (#11), who deflected it out of bounds.

Dunman were not going to let Nanyang steal the match from them and they blitzed to a 12-6 lead in the third set, prompting a time out from Nanyang. At the changeover, Nanyang were trailing 6-13.

Nanyang had problems breaking the Dunman defence, and saw their opponents chalk up point after point. Nanyang had to call for another time out when Dunman took a 20-10 lead. Nanyang tried to make a come back, but it was a herculean task for the defending champions, as they saw Dunman reach 23-13 after Jia En (Dunman #2) spiked through a hole in the block formed by Angeline (Nanyang #8) and Celene (Nanyang #3).

Dunman reached match point after Weiyu (Dunman #3) caught Nanyang off guard when her spike clipped the net instead and fell short of the Nanyang players. Dunman had to temporarily hold off their celebrations after they saw a spike blocked by Celene (Nanyang #3). However, Weiyu (Dunman #3) executed a well placed drop ball over the Nanyang blocker to seal the game for the team.

Final score
Dunman 2 Nanyang 1
(25-23, 21-25, 25-14)

Dunman Secondary will play Group X runner up St Hilda's Secondary on Thursday, April 1, 12pm at Presbyterian High.

Nanyang Girls' will then play Group Y champions Xinmin Secondary at 1.30pm after that.

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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