A Division Girls’ Volleyball: Defending champions Hwa Chong Institution see off Anglo-Chinese JC to meet Nanyang JC in final

By Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

CCAB, Tuesday, May 3, 2011 — Defending champions Hwa Chong Institution saw off Anglo-Chinese Junior College 3-0 (25-14, 25-23, 25-17) to book a spot in the final of the A Division Girls’ Volleyball Championship. In the other semi-final, Nanyang JC swept aside Victoria JC 3-0 (25-8, 26-24, 25-16) to set up a mouthwatering clash with the defending champions. Earlier on in the quarter-final stage, Nanyang JC had beaten Hwa Chong 2-0 to top their group.

With six out of their starting seven (including libero) from either the Combined Schools team or Youth Olympic Games squad, Hwa Chong had been dubbed the ‘All-Star team’ and were the clear favourites in this match. Cheryl Chan (HCI #2) took the first point after some tactical play from the team. Mistakes from ACJC allowed Hwa Chong to run off to an early 9-4 lead. A time out call by ACJC at this point could not stop Hwa Chong as they blitzed off to lead 17-7. Soon, Hwa Chong sealed the set with ease.

Things were however much different in the second set as ACJC started giving Hwa Chong a good fight. Things started heating up in the second half of the set as the score grew increasingly close. Time-out calls at the 18-18, 22-19 and 22-22 mark allowed both sides to reorganise. However, it was Hwa Chong who prevailed to the end, narrowly taking the second set.

Hwa Chong ran off to an advantage in the third set while constantly keeping ACJC on hindstep. ACJC were never going to give up and fought hard to keep the scores close. However, Hwa Chong made use of their depth and experience and pulled ahead to increase their lead. At the 23-15 mark, Hwa Chong was on serve. As the ball went over the net, it was clear that it was going out of bounds. As the ACJC backrow player dodged aside to avoid the ball, it unfortunately contacted her on the head to allow Hwa Chong to take match point. ACJC were not going to let this mistake cost them the match and fought hard to win back the point. Their efforts managed to hold off Hwa Chong for two points, but bad organisation within their side saw them unable to return the ball, gifting Hwa Chong the final point.

Final score
25-14, 25-23, 25-17

In the other semi-final, Nanyang JC extended their dominance early in the match as they swept aside Victoria JC 25-8 in the first set. VJC however had an awakening in the second set and fought hard to keep NYJC at bay. With NYJC leading 24-22, Joan Lim (VJC #10) narrowed the lead to just one point with a spike from the outside. Joan then brought the set into a deuce with a drop shot from the same place. Chan Jia En (NYJC #2) took the advantage for her team when she stopped Joan’s (VJC #10) attack in the next rally. Jia En (NYJC #2) sealed the set for her team with her spike from the outside which went just out of reach of VJC when it clipped the net on the way down.

NYJC went all out to prevent VJC from keeping the score close in the third set as they pulled ahead to an early lead. A time out call by VJC at the 8-2 mark was unable to prevent NYJC from further extending their lead as they establised an eight-point lead at 17-9. After a short scoring streak by VJC, NYJC called for a time out at the 18-13 mark. It helped settle the players as they resumed their charge to the finish. They soon sealed the match 25-26 after a spike by VJC went into the net.

Final score
25-8, 26-24, 25-16

For more photos, and photos of the next match, go to the next page.