North Zone B Div Vball: Xinmin dethrone defending champs Presbyterian High

Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall, Monday, February 20, 2012 — Xinmin Secondary dethroned North Zone defending champions Presbyterian High after winning 2-1 (23-25, 25-16, 25-20) at the North Zone B Division Girls’ Volleyball Final.

The victory capped off a dream run for Xinmin, who just two weeks ago were staring elimination in the face after a defeat to Chung Cheng High (Yishun). However, they managed to turn their luck around as they beat Presbyterian High in the group stages to book a spot in the semi-finals. There, they tasted success yet again as they beat Anderson Secondary 2-1 to feature in the final after a one year absence.

The teams were not far apart looking at the numbers. Xinmin put up 24 kills, eight blocks and five service aces while Presbyterian High had 26 kills, two blocks and four service aces. Both teams also had a similar number of errors, with Xinmin committing a glaring 10 service errors and 16 defensive errors. However, Presbyterian High also committed 24 hit errors as opposed to Xinmin’s 15, and it was the small difference at the end which gave Xinmin the win.

Presbyterian High captain Pua Le Jie (#18) and Xinmin centre spiker Tang Kim Choo (#7) were the joint-top scorers of the match with 12 points each. Le Jie (PHS #18) had 11 kills and one service ace while Kim Choo (Xinmin #7) had only five kills, but managed seven blocks to pull up her scoring tally.

Xinmin took the upperhand from the start as they kept a slender lead over Presbyterian High. But despite eventually leading 11-7, they saw their lead erode away as Presbyterian High came closing in.

Amanda Tan (PHS #11) eventually levelled the score at 13-13 after stuffing out a spike by Tan Hui Shi (Xinmin #11).

The score was tied at several points after that, but it was Presbyterian High who managed to break free from the stalemate to lead 19-17.

A timeout by Xinmin was unable to break Presbyterian High’s momentum as the latter surged forward.

Xinmin continued their chase and eventually managed to tie the score 22-22 after a service ace by Blessance Toh (Xinmin #12). Unfortunately, Blessance (#12) sent her serve into the net at the next rally which allowed Presbyterian High to lead once more. Kim Choo (Xinmin #7) subsequently levelled the score 23-23, but a spiking error by Ferlicia Leow (Xinmin #10) from the back court gave Presbyterian High set point.

With Xinmin raring to go, their hopes of stealing victory in the set was deflated after a position fault was called upon them just as Presbyterian High fired off their serve.

Xinmin however refused to let the disappointment in the first set put them down as they ran off with the lead right at the start of the second set. Presbyterian High could find no answer to Xinmin’s scoring streak and were trailing 2-9 before calling a timeout.

Hui Shi’s (Xinmin #11) momentum was broken by the timeout as she sent her serve into the net, but the team continued on with their scoring streak and were eventually leading 20-14.

Presbyterian High were struggling in their offense as they had eight hit errors while managing to score just five kills in the set. Xinmin on the other hand were not far ahead with eight kills, but they limited their hit errors to just four, managing to also score with four blocks.

Xinmin were eventually at set point after Kim Choo (Xinmin #7) blocked a spike by Jemima Koh (PHS #16). Xinmin sent their spike out of bounds at the next rally, but quickly sealed the set in the next after a strong spike by Kim Choo (Xinmin #7)

The third set was a much closer affair as both teams were neck and neck.

Le Jie (PHS #18) had a strong performance in the set as she put up six kills to keep Presbyterian High very much in the game. Presbyterian High managed to hold a two-point lead at the changeover, but soon saw Xinmin close in 13-13 after a drop shot by Hui Shi (Xinmin #11).

Xinmin then took the lead, but also saw Presbyterian High close in to level the score 16-16.

However, Xinmin managed to pull a fast one over Presbyterian High and pulled ahead to lead 22-18.

At this point, Presbyterian High made a change in setter in an attempt to make a comeback. They were given some breathing space after a net touch by Kim Choo (Xinmin #7), but the latter quickly took back control of serve after successfully blocking Le Jie’s (PHS #18) spike.

A miscommunication within Presbyterian High in the next rally gifted Xinmin match point, but Le Jie (PHS #18) managed to hold off Xinmin’s victory with a drop shot from the outside.

But it was not to be for the defending champions as they saw their comeback attempt cut shot. Hui Shi (Xinmin #11) scored the final point of the match, spiking off the Presbyterian High block to score a ‘touch-out’ and seal the title for Xinmin.

Final score
Xinmin 2 Presbyterian High 1
23-25, 25-16, 25-20

Xinmin also had more to cheer about as their boys’ team successfully defended their crown for the school to emerge double champions in the North Zone.

Xinmin Secondary vs Presbyterian High - Match Statistics

For more photos, go to the next page.