University of Santo Tomas alumni beat Singapore Youth 3-0 in volleyball invitational

By Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

Toa Payoh Sports Hall, Sunday, May 30, 2010 — A jovial University of Santo Tomas alumni team (UST) from the Philippines defeated the Singapore Youth team 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-11) to top Group D in the preliminaries of the Volleyball Association of Singapore’s Volleyball Invitational Championships.

The Singapore Youth team, which is also the nation’s Youth Olympics squad, will face off with TNT Singapore in the semi-finals of the championship. UST, whose players’ ages average between their late twenties to thirties, will play the Thailand Youth team in the other semi-final.

The opening rally was full of excitement, with Singapore taking the first point with good blocking. Several intense rallies ensued, with UST taking the lead at 5-2. UST were well in form right from the start, pounding Singapore with their spikes. By the first technical time out, UST had a four-point lead.

Singapore tried had to catch up but were constantly held off by UST. As the score gap grew wider, the UST team grew more relaxed and continued their attacks against Singapore. By the second technical time out, UST were leading 16-9, with the last point won after Joelle Lim’s (Singapore #1) spike from the back court found the net.

However, Singapore were not put down by the deficit and put up a hard fight in a bid to make a comeback. But there was no stopping UST from reaching set point. A spike from the Singapore team managed to bring the score to 24-19, but UST took the set after Singapore were unable to return the UST’s attack.

Singapore took the first point in the next set after setter Dorita Peng (Singapore #3) spiked the ball over on the second touch, catching UST off guard. UST then forced a touch out on the next rally to take a point of their own. It was a closer set this time round, with UST holding only a one-point lead over Singapore at the first technical time out.

However, miscommunication soon started to plague Singapore’s play, as several stray balls went unrescued, with players watching the ball hit the ground right in front of them. This allowed UST to extend their lead, with Singapore calling for a time out at the 13-7 mark.

De Leon Rubie (UST #1) then took several points with her serve, as she pressured Singapore into committing errors. By the second technical timeout, UST were leading by a staggering nine points at 16-7. Rubie (UST #1) continued her rampage, and it was only at the 20-7 mark when she served into the net did Singapore get a breather.

However, it was only a momentary pause to UST’s scoring streak as they quickly saw themselves at set point after a well-executed drop shot by their setter Rubie (UST #1). UST then sealed the match with a strong spike down the centre.

UST continued their rampage in the third set. By the first technical timeout, UST were leading 8-2, adding five more points to the scoreboard before Singapore called for a timeout at the 13-3 mark. Singapore’s backrow were facing problems countering UST’s attacks, with the latter’s players pounding the ball into empty spots, or forcing them off Singapore’s players.

Bt the second technical timeout, UST were leading 16-7. They soon pulled further ahead to lead 20-10 before Singapore called for a timeout. UST continued their scoring streak, and saw themselves at match point after a service ace. UST were then fouled for a net violation on the next rally to see Singapore take a point. But all was over for Singapore as a drop shot by substitute setter Cassandra Tay (Singapore #4) went out of bounds, gifting the set to UST.

Final Score
University of Santo Tomas 3 Singapore Youth 0
25-19, 25-15, 25-11

University of Santo Tomas Alumni
#1 De Leon Rubie
#2 Co Yu Kang Karen
#3 Carolino Michelle
#4 Carolino Marietta
#5 Balsa Mary Jean
#6 Aleta Monique
#7 Torrijos Joanna Marie
#8 Ponce de Leon Vilet (Libero)
#9 Co Yu Kang Kate
#10 Pimentel Roxanne
#12 Tabaquero Angeli

Singapore Youth
#1 Lim Shu Yu Joelle (Captain)
#2 Tan Yi Ting
#3 Peng Yet Ting Dorita
#4 Tay Hwee Min Cassandra
#5 Yeo Qian Lin Marylyn
#6 Chia Kah An Michelle
#7 Loh Ling Ying
#8 Chew Hui Zhen Sophia
#10 Ang Qi Hui
#11 Ng Wei Ting Stephanie (Libero)
#12 Seah Siew Hoon

Invitational Fixtures (Women’s)
Day 4 Monday (31/5) NB: Timing is subjected to change
Match 7 12:30 – 15:00 Women’s Semi-Final 1
C 1st vs. D 2nd

Match 8 20:30 – 23:00 Women’s Semi-Final 2
D 1st vs. C 2nd

Day 5 Tuesday (1/6)
Match 9 12:30 – 15:00 Women’s 5th & 6th C 3rd vs. D 3rd

Match 10 15:30 – 18:00 Women’s Bronze
Loser SF1 vs. Loser SF2

Day 6 Wednesday (2/6)
Match 11 09:00 – 11:30 Women’s Final
Winner SF1 vs. Winner SF2

For more photos, go to the next page.