By Tay Jun Wen/Red Sports
Valerie Lee (#10) of Fairfield spikes against Nanyang Girls’. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Presbyterian High School, Thursday, March 28, 2013 — Nanyang Girls’ High School suffered their first defeat in the National B Division Girls’ Volleyball Championship when they lost 1–2 (24–26, 25–10, 17–25) to Fairfield Methodist School (Secondary).
However, Nanyang Girls’ High still topped Group Y with six points and advanced into the semi-finals. Three points came from their 2–0 (25–23, 25–3) win over Dunman Secondary and another three from their 2–0 (25–17, 25–23) victory against Bukit Panjang Government High School.
Dunman finished second in Group Y and will also join Nanyang Girls’ High in the semi-finals. Apart from their loss to Nanyang, they beat Fairfield Methodist 2–0 (25–21, 25–15) to pick up three points.
Dunman secured their semi-final place when they beat Bukit Panjang Government High 2–0 (25–17, 25–21) in an earlier game. Dunman finished tied with Nanyang Girls’ High at six points each, but an inferior point difference left them second in Group Y.
With the game tied at 1–1, Nanyang Girls’ High went on a nine-point streak, extending their lead to 10–1. Fairfield Methodist went on a smaller six-point scoring streak of their own, reducing the deficit to three at 11–9.
With both teams strong with their spiking, the teams kept pace with each other with the scoreline close, going from 13–13 to 24–24. Fairfield Methodist subsequently scored two consecutive points to win the first set 26–24.
Elaine Thng (#14) of Fairfield said: “We played better today than other games.”
The second set saw Nanyang Girls’ High showing their true prowess. Both teams were tied from 2–2 till 7–7. Nanyang Girls’ High then went on a 10-point streak, pushing ahead to 17–7. Fairfield Methodist added one point to the board (17–8) before Nanyang Girls’ High went on another seven-point streak. The gap widened by 16 points (24–8), the largest in the second set.
Fairfield Methodist were only able to pick up another two points (24–10) before Nanyang Girls’ High sealed an easy 25–10 second set.
The third set saw Fairfield take a 3–1. Fairfield kept a constant two-point lead until 6–4, then extended their lead to four at 8–4. They then kept this four-point lead, going from 10–6, 12–8 to 13–9.
Fairfield Methodist then scored another point to make it 14–9 but Nanyang Girls’ High reacted with a four-point streak, reducing the deficit to one at 14–13. Soon, it was all square at 15–15.
Fairfield Methodist then made a four-point burst forward, bringing the score to 19–15. Nanyang Girls’ High tried to keep up by adding two more points but a final six-point streak saw Fairfield win the final set 25–17 to inflict the first defeat for Nanyang Girls’ High in this championship.
Fairfield’s team captain, Jee Shi Hua (#13), said: “They (Nanyang Girls’ High) were very strong opponents and we did not expect to win.”
Her teammate, Magdalene Tan (#8), added: “We showed perseverance and sportsmanship.”
Before this game, Fairfield Methodist had lost 0–2 (21–25, 15–25) to Dunman and 1–2 (25–23, 18–25, 18–25) to Bukit Panjang Government High and stood no chance of entering the semi-finals, regardless of the result against Nanyang Girls’ High.
Nonetheless, it did not stop Fairfield Methodist from putting up a good fight against Nanyang Girls’ High.
“I’m glad that the team did not give up,” said Vernice Lee (#2) of Fairfield.
Though knocked out of the competition, the Fairfield Methodist team would like to thank their coaches, Tan Wee Ang and Lau Chun Tee for the encouraging talk the previous day, making the team strive towards defeating Nanyang Girls’ High.
With the final Round 2 games played, the semi-finals would be as follow. Nanyang Girls’ High will play against Ngee Ann Secondary at 12pm on April 2. Dunman will have a faceoff with Presbyterian High at 1.30pm on the same day. Both games will be played at Presbyterian High School.
Score by Sets
Nanyang Girls’ High vs Fairfield Methodist
1st Set: 24–26
2nd Set: 25–10
3rd Set: 17–25
Nanyang Girls’ High Roster
Gwyneth Teo Sue Ern (#1), Beh Hui Ning Eirena (#2), Tan Jia Ying (#3), Ng Ai Wei Joelle (#4), Elin Wan (#5), Sandra Tang Xu Qi (#6), Natasha Ng Hui Ting (#7), Nicolette Lim Hui Zhu (#8), Lynette Lay Jia Qi (#9), Puah Wei Lin (#10), Gu Xuetian (#11), Joy Li Yi Ting (#12)
Fairfield Methodist Roster
Nicole Tan Hui Xuan (#1), Vernice Lee Jia Xuan (#2), Jacqueline Bong Lin-Hui (#3), Villocino Justeen Dolotina (#4), Wong Hiu Tung (#6), Tan Yue Mei Magdalene (#8), Valerie Lee Jia En (#10), Cheryl Tan En Yi (#12), Jee Shi Hua (#13), Elaine Thng Ying Jie (#14), Lee Min Yi (#15), Neo Kai Jun Selena (#16), Wong Nan Zhi Daphne (#17), Janine Teo Yeu Hwee (#18)
2013 National B Division Girls’ Volleyball Championship – fixtures and results
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