B Div Vball (Girls): Cedar overcome Ngee Ann to win 3rd/4th placing match

Presbyterian High, Monday, April 2, 2012 — Cedar Girls’ came from behind to overcome Ngee Ann Secondary in the 3rd/4th placing match at the National B Division Girls’ Volleyball Championship. Cedar won the five-set thriller 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 25-8, 11-25, 16-14) for the team to post their best ever finish in recent years.

Cedar had last qualified for the semi-finals in 2003 and 2005 where they eventually finished fourth.

Both teams seemed relatively equal at the start but it was Ngee Ann who was mostly in control for the first two sets. They scored 57 points from 40 kills, six blocks and 11 service aces while Cedar managed 46 points from 30 kills 13 blocks and three service aces.

While Ngee Ann outscored Cedar both in kills and service aces, Ngee Ann’s 40 hit errors erased any advantage their 40 kills had created. Instead, it was Ngee Ann’s errors in the final points of the rubber set which determined the outcome of the match.

Claudia (Cedar #18) and Huiwen (Ngee Ann #7) emerged as joint-top scorers of the match. Claudia had 17 points scored from 12 kills and five blocks. Huiwen (Ngee Ann #7) had 14 kills, two blocks and one service ace.

It was a close start as both teams engaged in long rallies right at the beginning. Cedar pulled ahead to lead 4-1 but soon lost it as Ngee Ann closed in 4-4 after a service ace from Jasmine (Ngee Ann #12). Ngee Ann then turned the tables on Cedar and pulled ahead to lead 10-6, prompting a timeout from Cedar.

However, Ngee Ann gradually saw their lead diminished as Cedar mounted a slow but steady comeback. Cedar came to within one point of Ngee Ann in four occasions, only for the latter to pull ahead once again. Their efforts finally paid off when they tied the score 22-22 after Wenxin (Ngee Ann #13) was unable to spike over.

A timeout by Ngee Ann adjusted the team’s nerves as Jastala (Ngee Ann #5) took the lead again with a spike from the outside. Cedar managed to level the score 23-23 after Kai Qi (Cedar #13) blocked Jastala (Ngee Ann #5) but a service error by Jasmine (Cedar #11) gave Ngee Ann set point.

Hui Wen (Ngee Ann #7) then sealed the set after spiking off the Cedar block, with the ball dropping beside the blocker.

Cedar kept up their efforts in the second set as they fought hard to keep the score close. Despite trailing at the start, they were quickly hot on Ngee Ann’s heels and closed in to within one point of their opponents. However, they were to be disappointed yet again as in the first set when they saw Ngee Ann manage to pull away.

Ngee Ann were soon leading 23-19 but a sudden drop in from allowed Cedar to stage an upset. Cedar held Ngee Ann at bay at the 23-point mark for four consecutive points, tying the score 23-23 to force a timeout from Ngee Ann. Ngee Ann’s woes continued as they gave away their lead after a spiking error. Another spiking error eventually gifted the set to Cedar.

Ngee Ann’s sudden drop in form continued into the third set. By the time Cedar had established a 10-3 lead, Ngee Ann had committed six hit errors in the process.

Ngee Ann could not break out of their bad streak as centre spikers Wen Xin (Ngee Ann #13) and Huiwen (#7) failed to score a single kill in the set. Despite Cedar also scoring a low number of kills, Ngee Ann’s numerous unforced errors allowed Cedar to take the set 25-8.

It was indeed a strange moment in the fourth set when a role reversal took place. This time round, it was Cedar who experienced a drop in form as they allowed Ngee Ann to race to a 11-4 lead.

Cedar failed to score a single kill in the set, gaining points on their own from only three blocks.

Ngee Ann then blitzed ahead and took the fourth set with a decisive margin.

In the rubber set, both teams unleashed all that they had. Both teams scored nine kills each as the score was neck and neck. At the changeover, Cedar were leading 8-7 but subsequently managed to pull ahead to lead 12-10.

Huiwen (Ngee Ann #7) led Ngee Ann’s attack as she scored five kills in the set, eventually bringing the score to 13-12. Cedar promptly called for a timeout but could not extend their lead after an error by Claire (Cedar #2).

Cedar managed to take the advantage after a hit error from Ngee Ann but saw the set enter a deuce after good blocking from Huiwen (Ngee Ann #7). It was a nerve wracking moment as the match could go either way at this point in time. Claudia (Cedar #18) took the advantage for her team and all eyes were on Ngee Ann to see if they could pull back.

Cedar faltered in their receive in the next rally as they sent the ball right into the path of the Ngee Ann blocker. However, Ngee Ann sent the return out of bounds to give Cedar the point.

Final score
Cedar 3 Ngee Ann 2
23-25, 25-23, 25-8, 11-25, 16-14

Cedar vs Ngee Ann - Match Statistics

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