Singapore Youth hold off Thailand Youth to win bronze medal playoff at volleyball invitational

By Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

Toa Payoh Sports Hall, Tuesday, June 1, 2010 — The Singapore Youth team received a boost in their preparation for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) when they edged out the Thailand Youth team at the Bronze Medal playoff of the Volleyball Association of Singapore’s Volleyball Invitational Championships. The team, which is also the nation’s YOG squad, triumphed 3-2 (17-25, 25-21, 16-25, 25-20, 16-14).

The first point was taken by Singapore after a tight rally. P.Kamolchanok’s (Thailand #10) spike from the opposite corner went out of bounds. However, S.Sureerak (Thailand #8) took back service for the team after spiking past the Singapore block from the outside. T.Suteera’s (Thailand #7) drop shot however found the next in the next rally and Singapore took control of service once again.

It was a close set, but Singapore eventually took the lead, holding a three-point advantage by the first technical timeout. An earlier injury by T.Suteera (Thailand #7), rendering her unable to continue play, did not stop Thailand from catching up, leveling the score 13-13. Thailand then turned the tables on Singapore after a spike from their left handed spiker S.Sureerak (Thailand #8). Thailand subsequently stormed ahead leaving Singapore in their wake.

They took set point after a serve by P.Kamolchanok (Thailand #10) saw Michelle Chia (Singapore #6) unable to return. In the next rally, T.Vannapa (Thailand #4) spiked off the Singapore block for her ball to fall into Singapore’s court. Cassandra Tay (Singapore #4) managed to reach the ball in time, but her rescue attempt went out of bounds, giving Thailand the set.

It was a close start to the second set. However, Singapore held on to their slender lead after the first technical timeout to lead by three points at the second technical timeout. Singapore then worked hard, and surged ahead to lead 20-16. Thailand then went on to attempt a recovery, coming to within two points of Singapore.

Thailand called a timeout at the 23-20 mark, but upon resumption, Marylyn Yeo (Singapore #5) blocked a drop shot attempt by Thailand to bring the team to set point. Despite Thailand forcing a touch out from Singapore in the next rally, Singapore sealed the set after Joelle Lim’s (Singapore #1) spike to the backline went unreturned.

Thailand had a good start in the third set, leading 8-4 at the first technical timeout. Singapore suddenly had problems answering Thailand’s attacks, as they saw their opponents charge ahead to lead 15-8, prompting a timeout from Singapore. Despite Singapore managing to rake in a few points, they could not stop Thailand from taking set point after a spike down the line by S.Pusarat (Thailand #12). P.Kamolchanok (Thailand #10) however, could not spike across and saw Singapore take a point. S.Sureerak (Thailand #8) however sealed the set with a spike to the corner.

With Thailand leading two sets to Singapore’s one, Singapore were putting in great effort not to concede to Thailand. Joelle Lim (Singapore #1) took the first point after her spike clipped the net, catching Thailand off guard. Singapore then stormed to a 4-0 lead, with the last point being won when Cassandra’s (Singapore #4) serve saw Thailand’s libero (#5) unable to receive. Singapore continued their lead, and were leading by six points by the first technical timeout.

Thailand called for a timeout after Singapore blitzed to a 13-3 lead. However, it still did not break Singapore’ momentum as Joelle (Singapore #1) fired off an ace to the line. Singapore were suddenly plagued by problems on their first receive, and lost several points to S.Sureerak’s (Thailand #8) serve.

Singapore called for a timeout at the 14-9 mark, but their woes continued, with Thailand eventually nullifying Singapore’s lead to tie 15-15. However, Thailand’s efforts to steal the lead was put on hold after C.Veruya (Thailand #1) served out of bounds for Singapore to lead by one point at the second technical timeout.

Upon resumption, P.Kamolchanok (Thailand #10) spiked off the Singapore block to level the score at 16-16 again. The teams continued to be tied at several points in the game, with the lead changing hands several times. Singapore suffered a scare after setter Cassandra Tay (#4) almost suffered an injury after bad footing while rescuing a stray ball. However, she recovered, and the team eventually took set point after Loh Ling Ying (Singapore #7) sent a light tap down the line. Singapore then sealed the set after T.Vannapa (Thailand #4) spiked out.

With the match entering the deciding set, Thailand were given the first point after a ‘double’ by Singapore. Thailand took an initial lead, but Singapore quickly closed in at 4-4, keeping the scores close. At the changeover, Thailand had a mere one point lead over Singapore.

As Singapore increased their lead to two points at the 10-point mark, Thailand called for a timeout. Thailand then leveled the set 10-10 to break Singapore’s momentum. They then went one point up after the Singapore libero Stephanie Ng (#11) deflected a shot out of bounds. Singapore called for a timeout, and the team leveled the score upon resumption. However, Thailand took the lead again, prompting Singapore to call for another timeout. It was then Thailand’s turn to call for a timeout when Singapore leveled 13-13.

Singapore then gained an advantage when Thailand spiked into the net. Everyone was on edge, anticipating both team’s next move. S.Sureerak (Thailand #8) saved the set point with a well executed drop shot. Joelle (Singapore #1) forced a touch out to bring Singapore to their second match point, and there was no opportunity for Thailand to bring the set into a deuce this time round as Ling Ying’s (Singapore #7) light spike saw the team take the last point, and the match.

Captain of the Singapore Youth team Joelle Lim commented on the team’s somewhat historic win: “Our efforts have finally paid off. We’ve really been training very hard. This win [against Thailand Youth] has certainly given us a boost in confidence considering we have never beaten Thailand before. Previously, we have only been playing against the Combined Schools squad from Thailand, but now that we’re able to beat the Thailand Youth team, I consider this a level up for us.”

Final Score
Singapore Youth 3 Thailand Youth 2
17-25, 25-21, 16-25, 25-20, 16-14

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

Thailand Youth
Chamnanthurakit Veruya (#1), Phopmaung Sagultara (#2), Whanphet Piyawan (#3), Tongsumrit Vannapa (#4), Thaimsinwathanachai Chutima (#5, Libero), Kongsap Isuree (#6), Thipsang Suteera (#7), Singhanat Sureerak (#8, Captain), Kaopong Patsuda (#9), Paitun Kamolchanok (#10), Sakulmak Kitsana (#11), Soithasin Pusarat (#12)

Invitational Fixtures (Women’s)
Day 6 Wednesday (2/6)
Match 11 09:00 – 11:30 Women’s Final
TNT Singapore vs. UST

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