St Hilda’s Secondary edge out Hwa Chong Institution in volleyball invitational

By Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

Toa Payoh Sports Hall, Sunday, May 30, 2010 — St Hilda’s Secondary edged out Hwa Chong Institution in an explosive Group B preliminaries match at the Volleyball Association of Singapore’s Volleyball Invitational Championships. St Hilda’s won the match 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 25-16, 19-25, 15-10) to qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament. Hwa Chong, on the other hand, finished third in their group after losing both their matches played.

After some tactical play in the fight for the first point, Sng Seng Whye’s (St Hilda’s #11) spike from the centre saw Hwa Chong unable to return. A serve by Sng Whye (St Hilda’s) #11 to the back line then increased the team’s lead. The St Hilda’s spiking machine was up and running early in the match, as they pounded Hwa Chong relentlessly. They quickly commanded a 7-3 lead, and despite a brief catch up by Hwa Chong, St Hilda’s were leading 8-5 by the first technical time out.

St Hilda’s continued their scoring streak leading by six points at the second technical time-out. However, Hwa Chong soon narrowed the gap to two points at 18-16. Two service aces from Melvin Goh (Hwa Chong #7) saw the score level at 18-18. St Hilda’s prevented Hwa Chong from stealing the lead, sending a spike just out of reach of the reach of the Hwa Chong libero, Kenneth Gwee.

Despite the scores being kept close, St Hilda’s were soon at set point after a drop shot by Melvin (Hwa Chong #7) went out of bounds. A time-out was called by Hwa Chong, but upon resumption, Qing Shan (Hwa Chong #13) returned Sng Whye’s (St Hilda’s #11) serve out of bounds to gift St Hilda’s the last point.

It was a close start to the second set with both teams neck and neck. By the first technical time-out, St Hilda’s managed only a one-point lead over Hwa Chong. It was a close set, with the lead changing hands several times. St Hilda’s managed to pull a lead at 18-15, only for Hwa Chong to quickly catch up, leveling the scores at 21-21 after Melvin (Hwa Chong #7) forced a touch out.

They then went one up, prompting a time-out from St Hilda’s. With Melvin (Hwa Chong #7) in place for service, Hwa Chong took set point after Jordon Toh (St Hilda’s #2) deflected the former’s jump serve out of bounds. Unfortunately, Melvin’s (Hwa Chong #7) next jump serve found the net, holding off the team’s win. Qing Shan (Hwa Chong #13) finished off the match with a spike from the outside.

Hwa Chong suddenly seemed to have lost steam in the third set. Despite an initial close start, they found themselves trailing by eight points at the second technical time-out. Hwa Chong were spiking many of their shots out of bounds, gifting their opponents many points. Time-outs by Hwa Chong could not stop St Hilda’s rampage, and the latter sealed the set 25-16.

Hwa Chong took the first point of the fourth set after Melvin (Hwa Chong #7) spiked a cross-court shot, with St Hilda’s deflecting it out of bounds. Benjamin Choo (St Hilda’s #7) then answered with a drop shot, with his ball bouncing off the Hwa Chong blockers and into an empty spot in Hwa Chong’s court.

While the Hwa Chong centre spiker went up for a fake, Melvin (Hwa Chong #7) followed in closely and thundered a ball down from the centre. This time, it was Hwa Chong who blitzed ahead, taking a 12-6 lead. St Hilda’s managed to make a brief comeback, but Hwa Chong held on to lead 16-10 at the second technical time out.

St Hilda’s were unable to stage any comeback after that, with Hwa Chong taking set point after Abel Ang (St Hilda’s #5) could not spike over. Hwa Chong then took the set after Gilbert Toh (Hwa Chong #8) deflected his spike off the St Hilda’s block, winning 25-19.

With both teams having two sets each, it was down to the deciding set. Hwa Chong took the first point with a quick shot by Yu Chenxing (Hwa Chong #10), but it was St Hilda’s who took the lead. At the changeover, St Hilda’s were leading 8-4. They stepped up pressure on Hwa Chong, eventually pulling ahead to a 12-7 lead. Hwa Chong were having difficulty countering St Hilda’s and watched as St Hilda’s drew closer to the win.

St Hilda’s soon took match point after a quick ball by Benjamin (St Hilda’s #7). However, Melvin (Hwa Chong #7) held off their opponents win with a spike of his own. But it was not to be, as Benjamin (St Hilda’s #7) sealed the match with a quick ball to the back of Hwa Chong’s court.

Final Score
St Hilda’s 3 Hwa Chong Institution 2
25-21, 23-25, 25-16, 19-25, 15-10

St Hilda’s Secondary
Andy Ong Ming Yi (#1), Jordon Toh Yue Xuan (#2), Kevin Chua Keng Wee (#3), Malcom Tay Ying Liang (#4), Abel Ang Hao Wen (#5), Matthaeus Ang Teck Ming (#6), Choo Wei Jie Benjamin (Captain, #7), Tan Zheng Han (Libero, #8), Oo Boon Chuan Vincent (#9), Ong Hong Yuan (#10), Sng Seng Whye (#11), Derek Chew Yong Cheng (#12)

Hwa Chong Institution
Tin Jing Jie (#1), Lee Jia Jun Glenn (#3), Wang Kuanhe (#4), Gwee Hanjie Kenneth (Libero, #5), Liao Junxiong (#6), Goh Teng Kuan Melvin (#7), Gilbert Toh Wei Han (#8), Koh Zuo Quan (#9), Yu Chenxing (Captain, #10), Lee Wayne (#11), Qing Shan (#13), Lee Jun De (#17)

Invitational Fixtures (Men’s)
Day 4 Monday (31/5) NB: Timing is subjected to change
Match 7 15:30 – 18:00 Men’s Semi-Final 1
A 1st vs. B 2nd

Match 8 18:00 – 20:30 Men’s Semi-Final 2
B 1st vs. A 2nd

Day 5 Tuesday (1/6)
Match 9 10:00 – 12:30 Men’s 5th & 6th A 3rd vs. B 3rd

Match 10 18:00 – 20:30 Men’s Bronze
Loser SF1 vs. Loser SF2

Day 6 Wednesday (2/6)
Match 11 11:30 – 14:00 Men’s Final
Winner SF1 vs. Winner SF2

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