B Division Girls’ Volleyball: Ngee Ann dash Cedar’s hopes to qualify for semi-finals

By Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

Presbyterian High, Monday, March 28, 2011 — Ngee Ann Secondary edged out Cedar Girls’ 2-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-23) to earn a spot in the semi-finals of the National B Division Girls’ Volleyball Championship. Prior to this match, both teams had had one win and one loss each, meaning that Cedar Girls’ have seen their dream run come to an end as they were sent packing after this match’s loss.

Ngee Ann started strong as they stormed off to an early lead. Cedar were finding it hard to settle in as unforced errors early in the set saw Ngee Ann command a 10-2 lead. However, Cedar managed to narrow the score gap, but they never really came close to leveling the scores. Ngee Ann soon found themselves at set point after a drop shot from setter Jane Chan (#7). Cedar were however not going to let Ngee Ann take the set easy, and fought hard to hold them back for three points. Peh Qianhui (Ngee Ann #17) eventually took the set for her team after a spike from the centre.

The second set was a closer affair as Cedar fought hard to steal a win. Realising the importance of their match, Cedar brought the match to Ngee Ann’s door as they fought hard to keep the scores close. With the score tied at 7-7, it was Ngee Ann who managed to pull ahead to lead 17-14. However, two service aces from Quak Gu Ting (Cedar #16) brought Cedar to within one point of Ngee Ann, prompting the latter to call a time out. Despite Qianhui (Ngee Ann #17) extending the lead once again, Cedar soon caught up to tie 18-18 after unforced errors from Ngee Ann.

Cedar then turned the tables on Ngee Ann as they took the lead to storm ahead to set point. Leading 24-20, Cedar were going all out to secure that last point but they were not going to have an easy task. Ngee Ann came back fighting as they quickly closed the gap score gap to trail by just one point. Everyone were on their edge of their seats as they watched the match unfold. Unfortunately, Ngee Ann were unable to bring the set into a deuce as Wang Qi Hui (Ngee Ann #6) spiked out of bounds to gift Cedar the last crucial point.

Ngee Ann again established an early lead in the rubber set. A time out by Cedar at the 7-2 mark helped turn things around as the team quickly fought to close in on Ngee Ann. Despite trailing by two points at the changeover, they subsequently tied the score at 15-15. The match was down to the wire as both teams edged forward. With the score at 23-22, Ngee Ann gained the advantage after Fong Shi Yun (Ngee Ann #16) successfully blocked a spike from Cedar. Cedar however came right back with a spike from Han Yan Jing (Cedar #9), prompting a time out from Ngee Ann. Everyone were wondering if Cedar would be able to stage an upset, but Qi Hui (Ngee Ann #6) sealed the match for the team with a spike down the line which was out of reach of any Cedar player.

Qi Hui (Ngee Ann #6) had 20 kills for the match, with one block and three service aces. Teammate Qianhui (#17) had ten kills and three blocks. Ngee Ann had put up a substantial number of attacks against Cedar, with a total of 40 kills, five blocks, and eight service aces. Cedar on the other hand, despite having only 26 kills, eight blocks, and four service aces, they making less unforced errors compared to Ngee Ann.

Final score
Ngee Ann 2 Cedar 1
25-20, 23-25, 25-23

Ngee Ann finish on top of Group X, and will face Group Y runner up Fairfield Methodist in the semi-finals on Friday, 2pm at Presbyterian High.

For more photos, go to the next page.