By Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports
Celene Wan (#2) of SMU spikes the ball against Tan Xin Ying (#4) of NUS. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)
Singapore Institute of Management, Wednesday, September 18, 2014 — Singapore Management University (SMU) defeated National University of Singapore (NUS) 3–1 (25–15, 14–25, 25–21, 25–23) in their final game of the Singapore University Games (SUniG) Women’s Volleyball season. The victory is SMU’s first of the season.
SMU libero Vanessa Neo (#5) stood out on the defensive end, denying several NUS spikes to help SMU’s cause. Ryshire Wu (#2) had an excellent offensive game for NUS with her powerful spikes, but was unable to carry her team to victory.
SMU dominated in the opening set, easily winning 25–15 through solid defensive plays.
A defensive breakdown in the second set allowed NUS to mount a 13–2 run through the spikes of Ryshire Wu (#2). NUS capitalised on SMU’s mistakes to eventually take the second set with a score of 25–14.
SMU took an early lead in the third set through spikes from Wong Sze Waiy (#4) and Charissa Beh (#7). NUS responded with a 7–0 run to tie the set at 17 apiece, sparked by powerful spikes from Ryshire Wu (#2). Both teams exchanged points, until SMU won a 28-hit rally to take a 22–21 lead. SMU went on to score three unanswered points to clinch the set.
The final set was a close one, as Ryshire Wu (#5) and Adelyn Pang (#10) put up countless aggressive spikes to keep NUS in the game. SMU libero Vanessa Neo (#5) was the heroine of the set, as she saved several NUS spikes to facilitate SMU’s offence. SMU eventually held on to win the set 25–23.
SMU’s Loh Zuo Yi (#8) said, “It’s been a long time since we won a game.”
SMU’s Wong Sze Waiy (#4) added, “We’re very happy, because we think we played really well today.”
SMU captain, Ang Xue Er (#13), said, “Ever since they changed the system, we’ve not been able to join the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) Games last year, because we were always last. No matter what the final results may be, I just want to say that I love my teammates.”
With the victory, SMU forced a three-way tie between themselves, NUS and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The three teams each have a 1–2 win-loss record, and by virtue of point differentials, NUS finished second, while NTU finished in third place. SMU finished as third runners-up.
Score by set
NUS vs SMU
1st set: 15–25
2nd set: 25–14
3rd set: 21–25
4th set: 23–25
NUS Roster
Lim Hui Tien (#1), Wu Hui Minn Ryshire (#2), Chew Hui Min (#3), Tan Xin Ying (#4), Kong Xin Ni (#5), Seah Ningsui Adeline (#6), Eleanor Toh Gou Jun (#7), Cheryl Koh Xue Er (#8), Joey Lim (#9), Pang Yen Lin Adelyn (#10), Chan Yong Ern Melinda (#11), Wong Ying Fong Charis (#12)
SMU Roster
Hsu Yi Peng (#1), Celene Wan (#2), Divya Ramchand Jagtiani (#3), Wong Sze Waiy (#4), Vanessa Neo (#5), Beh Hui Ci Charissa (#7), Loh Zuo Yi (#8), Tan Pei Jun Laura (#9), Liu En-Qi Cheryl (#11), Ang Xue Er (#13), Rachael Ramachandran (#17), Low Yi Yuan (#18)
SUniG Women’s Volleyball Championship – fixtures and results
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