Story by reader Chang Yi Ning
The Nanyang Girls’ High C Div vball team with their championship trophy and medals. From left to right: Lynette Lay, Chong Hui Xian, Elysia Low, Tan Jia Ying, Joy Li, Elin Wan, Ang Hui Lyn, Natasha Ng, Vera Keh, Sandra Tang, Elizabeth Chong, Shen Jia. (Photo courtesy of Chang Yi Ning)
Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall, Thursday, August 16, 2012 — Nanyang Girls’ High School came from 1-2 down to beat Dunman Secondary School 3-2 (24-26, 25-16, 10-25, 25-13, 15-4) to win the 2012 National C Division Volleyball Championship title.
Both teams were neck to neck from the start, with neither side able to establish a commanding lead. Nanyang had their biggest lead of the set at 18-12, but despite that, they went on to lose the set 24-26 when an attempt at blocking Dunman’s spike went awry, as the ball went out of the court instead.
The second set proved to be better for Nanyang as they exhibited some admirable teamwork when Sandra Tang (Nanyang #6) executed a spike to give her team their first lead of the set at 3-2. Ashlyn Tan’s (Dunman #7) fierce spike, coupled with a mistake on Nanyang’s part, led to Dunman tying the score briefly at 4-4, but Elin Wan (Nanyang #5) scored the next point when the opposing team failed to save her spike. Nanyang continued to lead all the way to win the second set 25-16.
However, Dunman picked up their game in the third set and led Nanyang from the start. Although Natasha Ng’s (Nanyang #7) valiant blocks of Dunman’s spikes, as well as a scoring spike with the help of setter Lynette Lay (#9), helped her team to regain their footing, they continued to fall behind, eventually losing the third set 10-25 to fall behind 1-2.
In the fourth set, Nanyang came back much livelier, sending their rivals running for the ball more than once. Dunman, however, were just as determined, and the ferocity of both sides showed in the long rally with Nanyang leading at 11-4, which only ended when the ball failed to cross the net.
After the break at 13-4, the energy level was very high in the stands. Dunman gave it their best, their players spiking determinedly as Nanyang fended them off with equal spirit. One such defending moment was when Tan Jia Ying (Nanyang #2) fell as she managed to save the ball, but a hit error gave the point to Dunman to trail by nine at 11-20.
In spite of some further fumbling, Nanyang won the set 25-13 to even the tie at 2-2 and send it into the deciding rubber.
The last set, an hour into the match, saw a low point for Dunman when their captain, Ashlyn Tan (#7), limped off injured with Nanyang leading 4-1.
With excellent coordination among the teammates, Nanyang played a quick game, exploiting their opponents’ weaknesses and switching sides at 8-2. After a break at 9-2, Nanyang went on to play a relentless game, sending Dunman reeling.
Despite falling behind, Dunman tried to pick up, with Ow Siew Jin (#8) scoring their fourth point of the set with a strong spike, but a hit error gave the match point to Nanyang at 14-4.
There was a long period of tense rallying, with spike after spike by Nanyang as Dunman fought till the end, but when the latter failed to block a last spike, Nanyang clinched the winning point, establishing themselves as the national champions of 2012.
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