Story by Jiexin Neo/Red Sports. Photos by Clara Yuan/Red Sports
Timothy Teng (DHS #5) spikes the ball against HCI. (Photo 1 © Clara Yuan/Red Sports)
Physical Education and Sports Education Branch, May 2, 2014 — Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) beat Dunman High School (DHS) 2–1 (25–23, 21–25, 25–22) in their final group game in the A Division Boys Volleyball Championship.
With this win, HCI remain undefeated and top group Y to move into the semi-finals.
Early into the first set, both HCI and DHS were still warming up their game and made several defensive mistakes, as they were unable to rotate their positions fluidly. Midway through the set, the score was tied at 13–13. From there, the HCI attacking players took turns to make strong spikes which went unattended as the DHS defenders were unable to dive in time for the ball. With that they went on a scoring streak to put in five unanswered points (18–13).
It seemed that HCI will go on straight to win the set, but good team effort from DHS offensively allowed them to chase the points and eventually draw even with HCI at 21–21 when Daniel Png (DHS #9) made a strong spike. Both teams alternated at scoring until HCI were leading 24–23. Daniel (DHS #9) spiked the ball but Chen Liangrui (HCI #2) retaliated with a good block at the net to secure the first win for his team (25–23).
After the break, HCI opened the scoring with Chang Chun-Chua’s (HCI #13) spike to lead 1–0. Then on, Poon Pei Jie (HCI #1) paced his team with well-timed spikes which mostly went unattended, putting in points for his side consistently. On the other hand, Daniel (DHS #9) continued with his good game from the first set, executing spikes to lead his team offensively. The teams matched point for point until it was tied at 11–11. Thereafter, DHS outscored HCI 9–2 to lead 20–13. HCI tried to overcome the deficit towards the end of the second set by stepping up on their attacks, but DHS was determined to win this set as they retaliated with an alert defense. DHS took the second set 25–21.
In the decisive final set, both teams were fighting for the lead and it exchanged hands several times throughout the game. As such the scores were neck and neck until it was 22–22. After that, DHS’s defensive mistakes allowed HCI to take it point by point, until they managed to ice the set at 25–22.
HCI captain, Pei Jie (#1), said, “I think it was pretty intense. I think today my team did pretty well, and I think Dunman was really very good. I was happy that despite their high morale, my team still fought hard and we managed to come back. It’s happy to meet Dunman now, because before that all our wins were quite easy. So I feel that Dunman really fought hard and I think it makes us know that we have a lot of things to improve on, so we will fight even harder.”
Scoring by Set
HCI vs DHS
1st set: 25–23
2nd set: 21–25
3rd set: 25–22
Hwa Chong Institution Roster
Poon Pei Jie (#1), Chen Liangrui (#2), Lee Chong Hon (#4), Tin Wei Heng (#6), Wayne Yeung Keng WY (#7), Low Ern Hueh (#8), Wang Hongsen (#9), Lee Wei Ren Benjamin (#10), Richmond Lim Jun Loong (#11), Chan Hong Kit (#12), Chang Chun-Chuan (#13), Ang Zhi Wei (#14), Tan Mingzhuang Jovian (#17), Tay Yee En Ryan (#18)
Dunman High School Roster
Ng Jing Kai Lincoln (#1), Koh Zhe Wei (#2), Mok Kin Yong Benjamin (#3), Teng Zheng Zhe Timothy (#5), Lim Wei Chong Jeffrey (#8), Daniel Png Tze Woon (#9), Kong Shao Ming (#10), Ryan Lee Zong Han (#11), Neo Wei Lu (#12), Sean Lew Teng Siong (#13)
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