Hua Yi beat Ngee Ann in C Division girls volleyball quarter-finals

By Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

Presbyterian High School, Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - Hua Yi Secondary ended their season with a win as they overcame Ngee Ann Secondary 2-1 (24-26, 25-22, 25-20) in the quarter-finals of the National C Division Girls Volleyball Championship.

Both teams had already failed to qualify for the semi-finals after losing their previous quarter-final matches to Nanyang Girls' and Dunman Secondary. However, both teams were still determined to win their last match together as a team.

Hua Yi gave Ngee Ann a close fight for the first set. A Hua Yi time out at the 10-12 mark allowed the team to deny Ngee Ann any substantial lead. Despite Hua Yi holding onto a three point lead at 21-17, Hua Yi soon caught up. Hua Yi then turned the tables on Ngee Ann, and reached set point after seeing Ngee Ann return a ball into the net.

However, Rannie (Hua Yi #16) was unable to send her spike across, followed by good play from Ngee Ann to see Ngee Ann close the score gap. They brought the game into a deuce after Hua Yi was unable to organize a return. Hua Yi gained an advantage after Rannie (Hua Yi #16) successfully blocked a spike from Ngee Ann. Hua Yi then took the set after Ngee Ann was unable to return the ball.

The second set was a similar encounter, with the score being very close. The game went on as each the score went up at a snail's pace. Neither team were able to draw a significant lead, and it was only after the 18-18 mark that Hua Yi managed to pull ahead to lead 20-18. But it was to no avail as Ngee Ann quickly leveled back at 22-22. Ngee Ann then turned the tables on Hua Yi as they reached set point after several good serves. They then sealed the set after the Ngee Ann #12 deflected her spike off a Hua Yi player.

Hua Yi continued to give Ngee Ann a hard fight in the third set. At the changeover, Ngee Ann was holding onto a narrow one-point lead over Hua Yi. However, they eventually went on to lead 20-16, and looked like they would take the set with ease. Hua Yi were not going to go down without a fight, and they saw the score level at 20-20 after the Ngee Ann #10 spiked out.

Hua Yi then went one point up, leading to Ngee Ann to call for a time out. Hua Yi held on and surged to match point, before taking the set after serving an ace.

Ngee Ann and Hua Yi are draw in Group X alongside Nanyang Girls' and Dunman Secondary. Nanyang finish top of Group X with three wins, whereas Dunman have two wins and one loss.

Group X runner up Dunman Secondary will play defending champions Cedar Girls in the semi-finals on Thursday, April 1, 9am at Presbyterian High.

Group X champions Nanyang Girls will then play Group Y runner up Chung Cheng High (Yishun) at 10.30am after that.

Final Score
Ngee Ann 2 Hua Yi 1
(24-26, 25-22, 25-20)

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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