St Hilda’s sweep aside Nanyang JC to win bronze medal playoff at volleyball invitational

By Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

Toa Payoh Sports Hall, Tuesday, June 1, 2010 — St Hilda’s Secondary swept aside Nanyang Junior College 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-11) to win the bronze medal playoff match at the Volleyball Association of Singapore’s Volleyball Invitational Championships.

St Hilda’s started off with a lead, holding a four-point advantage by the first technical timeout. Benjamin Choo (St Hilda’s #7) pounded NYJC early in the set, raking in several points for the team. St Hilda’s had amassed an eight-point lead by the second technical timeout. NYJC simply had no answer to St Hilda’s attacks and eventually saw their opponents reach set point they were unable to return St Hilda’s spike.

Clarence Lee (NYJC #4) however held off St Hilda’s celebrations with a spike down the line. St Hilda’s sealed the set when Vincent Oo’s (St Hilda’s #9) spike from the outside went just out of reach the NYJC libero, Kenneth Yeow (#10).

NYJC turned the tables on St Hilda’s in the second set as they raced off to a great start. Leading by five points by the first technical time out, St Hilda’s found trouble responding to NYJC’s attack. However, they quickly overcame their shaky start to come within one point of NYJC, leading to a timeout by NYJC. They leveled the scores at 9-9 after a powerful spike from the outside.

The next few rallies were close, with each team edging forward point by point. However, St Hilda’s quickly broke free from the stalemate and surged ahead, sealing the set 25-14 after Jordon Toh (St Hilda’s #2) successfully blocked a drop shot from Tan Jun Ze (NYJC #13).

St Hilda’s were well on track to take the third set, taking an 8-4 lead. The set started off relatively close, but St Hilda’s stepped on the pedal and lead 16-9 by the second technical time out. St Hilda’s continued to hold NYJC, with the latter finally reaching the 10-point mark after a spike down the line. However, St Hilda’s had already amassed a 12-point lead, and it was simply too big a task for NYJC to stage a comeback. St Hilda’s sealed the set and the win after Sng Seng Whye (St Hilda’s #11) fired off a quick ball from the centre which NYJC could not return.

Final Score
St Hilda’s 3 Nanyang JC 0
25-15, 25-14, 25-11

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)

Nanyang Junior College
Darren Lim Jek Chong (#1), Chow Ming Hui (#3), Lee Yi Song Clarence (#4), Yeo Kai Shian (#5), Tan Yun Sheng (#6), Esmond Chiam Zhen Hao (#7), Muhammad Syafiq (#8), Lim Yi Kai (Captain, #9), Kenneth Yeow Kok Fai (Libero, #10), Ng Zi Hao (#11), Ong Jun Feng (#12), Tan Jun Ze (#13), Lew Voon Jin Eugene (#17), Johner Tham Kei Nam (#18)

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