Temasek Poly hold off St Hilda’s in volleyball invitational

By Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

Toa Payoh Sports Hall, Saturday, May 29, 2010 — 2010 Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) champions Temasek Polytechnic beat B Division boys’ champions St Hilda’s Secondary 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-23) in an explosive Group B preliminary round match of the Volleyball Association of Singapore’s Volleyball Invitational Championships 2010. They now top their group with two wins out of two matches played.

Temasek took the first point with a spike. Benjamin Choo (St Hilda’s #7) then took the first point for his team with a press. St Hilda’s had a slow start, seeing Temasek command an 8-6 lead by the first technical time out. However, the St Hilda’s spiking machine soon awoke, and saw them narrow their score gap. They drew to within one point of Temasek, and drew level at 15-15 after a ‘double’ by Temasek.

However, bad blocking of a spin spike from Temasek saw the latter take the lead by the second technical time out. St Hilda’s then saw two consecutive spikes blocked for them to trail by three points. St Hilda’s called for a time out after the gap extended to four points.

Temasek increased pressure on St Hilda’s with tight blocking, preventing the latter from penetrating. Spikes from Shaun Lim (Temasek #7) saw the team take several points. They soon saw themselves lead 23-18 after the St Hilda’s libero Tan Zheng Han (#8) committed a ‘double’. A net touch by Temasek on the next rally saw them denied set point. However, Mark Leong (Temasek #4) forced a touch out from the St Hilda’s libero, bringing the team to set point.

Temasek had to work for their next point, as mistakes saw them lose three consecutive points to St Hilda’s. They finally took the set after good spiking.

Temasek started off strong in the second set, commanding an 8-3 lead. St Hilda’s on the other hand were not so easily put off, and were quietly making their comeback. Point by point, they narrowed the score gap to come within one point of Temasek at the 13-12 mark.

However, Temasek quickly pulled ahead to lead 16-12 at the second technical time out. Once again, St Hilda’s came close to leveling the scores, but a drop shot by Mark Leong (Temasek #4) denied St Hilda’s that opportunity. The rallies began getting increasingly tight and close, as St Hilda’s finally drew level at 22-22 after a receive by Temasek of Vincent Oo’s (St Hilda’s #9) serve went awry.

Temasek were not going to let St Hilda’s steal the set, and took the lead once again after Zheng Zisheng (Temasek #18) forced a touch out from St Hilda’s. They were then at set point after St Hilda’s spike went out of bounds. Temasek were gifted the last point after Kevin Chua (St Hilda’s #3) missed the ball on his run-in for a spike.

St Hilda’s were not going down so easily, and charged ahead in the third set. They commanded an early 4-1 lead, and looked set to maintain it, only for Temasek to catch up, and level the scores 7-7. However, St Hilda’s quickly regained their foothold and charged ahead to lead 13-7. Mistakes made in St Hilda’s setting eventually allowed Temasek to draw close. But St Hilda’s would manage to pull ahead once again, leaving Temasek to play catch up.

With St Hilda’s leading 20-16, St Hilda’s were on a high and seemed all set to take the set. However, Temasek were not going down so easy and staged a comeback, leveling 22-22 with St Hilda’s. It was certainly an exciting moment as both teams were neck and neck. They continued to be tied at the 23-23 mark, but Temasek eventually turned the tables on St Hilda’s and took the lead, and match point after they blocking a spike by Vincent Oo (St Hilda’s #9). Temasek were then gifted the last point after a net touch by St Hilda’s.

Final Score
Temasek Polytechnic 3 St Hilda’s Secondary 0
25-22, 25-23, 25-23

Temasek Polytechnic
Loan Shihao Louis (#1), Tan Ryan (#2), Lim Chee Yong (#3), Leong Bao Wen Mark (#4), Samuel Chew (#5), Wong Hua Lun (#6), Shaun Lim Jie Liang (#7), Wong Wei Zhi (Libero, #8), Aaron Teo Zong Jie (#9), Darren Wong Hong Zhi (#10), Zhou Zhiyao Benjamin (#11), Lam Jun Yi Sean (#12), Toh Shang Wei (#13), Lam Wei Liang Alvin (#14), Benedick Ong Zi Quan (#15), Guo Kangwei (#16), Hong Ming Xiong (#17), Zheng Zisheng (#18)

St Hilda’s Secondary
Andy Ong Ming Yi (#1), Jordon Toh Yue Xuan (#2), Kevin Chua Keng Wee (#3), Malcom Tay Ying Liang (#4), Abel Ang Hao Wen (#5), Matthaeus Ang Teck Ming (#6), Choo Wei Jie Benjamin (Captain, #7), Tan Zheng Han (Libero, #8), Oo Boon Chuan Vincent (#9), Ong Hong Yuan (#10), Sng Seng Whye (#11), Derek Chew Yong Cheng (#12)

Invitational Fixtures (Men’s)
Day 3 Sunday (30/5)
Match 5 10:00 – 12:30 Men’s Preliminaries Pool B
Hwa Chong Institution vs St Hilda’s Secondary

Match 6 Men’s Preliminaries Pool A
Match 6 18:30 – 20:30 Men’s Preliminaries Pool A
Punggol Secondary vs Volleyball Association of Johor Bahru (Malaysia)

Day 4 Monday (31/5) NB: Timing is subjected to change
Match 7 15:30 – 18:00 Men’s Semi-Final 1
A 1st vs. B 2nd

Match 8 18:00 – 20:30 Men’s Semi-Final 2
B 1st vs. A 2nd

Day 5 Tuesday (1/6)
Match 9 10:00 – 12:30 Men’s 5th & 6th A 3rd vs. B 3rd

Match 10 18:00 – 20:30 Men’s Bronze
Loser SF1 vs. Loser SF2

Day 6 Wednesday (2/6)
Match 11 11:30 – 14:00 Men’s Final
Winner SF1 vs. Winner SF2

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