Chien Wen (NYJC #7) and Rachel (#12) go up to block an attempt by Yan Jing (VJC #9). (Photo 1 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)

Toa Payoh Sports Hall, Wednesday, May 9, 2012 — Defending champions Nanyang Junior College (NYJC) bounced back from a shaky start to successfully retain their title after a 3-1 (32-20, 25-23, 19-25, 25-19) victory over Victoria JC (VJC) at the A Division Girls’ Volleyball Championship Final.

In their previous meeting in the group stages, NYJC had cruised to a 2-0 victory over VJC. This time round, NYJC did not have such an easy time facing a resilient VJC team.

NYJC scored a total of 77 points from 63 kills, 7 blocks and 7 service aces while VJC had 51 points scored from 27 kills, 19 blocks and 5 service aces.

While the numbers suggest that NYJC had a high scoring match, the match was instead a hard fought one due to NYJC’s 30 hit errors and 11 service faults as opposed to VJC’s 13 errors and 5 service faults. In addition, VJC had a field day in terms of blocking as they successfully scored from 19 blocks.

Lim Chien Wen (NYJC #17) was the top scorer of the match with 27 points from 17 kills, 6 blocks and 4 service aces. Team mate Chan Jia En (#2) was next in line with 26 points from 25 kills and one block. VJC’s Joan Lim (#10) was joint-second, also with 26 points via 14 kills, 10 blocks and 2 service aces.

NYJC found themselves trailing right at the start as VJC powered ahead to lead 10-3. Joan (VJC #10) was a dominant force in the front as she successfully stopped several NYJC attacks to give the team the lead. NYJC continued their poor run, committing 15 hit errors in the set.

After a hard fought encounter, NYJC managed to level the set 15-15 before going ahead to lead 17-15, prompting a timeout from VJC. However, errors in their play allowed VJC to take back the set.

NYJC found themselves trailing throughout and a setting error ultimately saw VJC leading 24-22.

Chien Wen (NYJC #17) managed to save two consecutive match points to force the set into a deuce when she scored from a swipe and a block.

VJC took the advantage once again only for NYJC to level the score yet again. NYJC managed to save five set points to eventually be level at 30-30. Time time round, NYJC managed to take the advantage and sealed the set after a VJC spiking error gifted them the last point.

NYJC had to play catch up in the second set as well as VJC kept themselves ahead. Despite NYJC being able to tie the set on several occasions, VJC would pull ahead once again. VJC were soon leading 23-21 but in a repeat of the first set, they could not hold on to their lead and lost the set to NYJC 25-23.

The third set was a close start between the teams but midway, VJC managed to pull ahead to lead 16-13. This time round, NYJC could not make a comeback as they watched VJC take the set 25-19.

After enduring three tough sets where they were almost always trailing, NYJC managed to get off to a good start in the fourth set. Working on the back of 15 kills, NYJC pulled ahead to lead 17-12. Timeouts by VJC at the 10-7 and 15-10 mark could not stop their scoring streak as they stayed in the lead.

However, defensive errors plagued NYJC’s play which saw VJC close in to a one-point difference. NYJC managed to hold off VJC’s advances and were leading 23-19 after scoring from Jia En’s swipe. NYJC were then at match point after a position fault by VJC before sealing the match 25-19 after a drop shot by Jia En (NYJC #2).

Final score
NYJC 3 VJC 1
32-20, 25-23, 19-25, 25-19

NYJC Team Roster
Iris Teng Swee Ting (#1), Chan Jia En (#2, Captain), Cynthia Lai Wan Ni (#4), Tan Yan Ling Valerie (#5, Libero), Nur Syathiran Bte Sunaryo (#7), Fong Shi Yun (#8), Chan Yong Ern Melinda (#9, Libero), Amanda Tng Rui Pin (#10), Tan Xin Lerk (#11), Lau Yue Ting Rachel (#12), Lim Chien Wen (#15)

VJC Team Roster
Low Zuxian (#1), tan Ying Lin Eunice (#2, Libero), Lim Cen Yun (#3), Tan Xin Ying (#4), Ashley Chong Si Ting (#6), Rachel Ramachandran (#7), Jayne Ng (#8), Heng Yan Jing (#9), Joan Lim Yee Ting (#10, Captain), Kho Le Shen (#11), Lee Zhen Yi Cheryl (#12), Teo Jaf Le (#13)

Nanyang JC vs Victoria JC - Match Statistics

Points scored (Total)KillsHit ErrorsBlocksBlock ErrorsService AceService FaultDefensive ErrorsUnforced Errors
NYJC Team Totals77633074711198
Lim Chien Wen (#17)27174634205
Chan Jia En (#2)262512110320
Rachel Lau (#12)12111001020
Amanda Tng (#10)11911002410
Tan Xin Lerk (#11)111000100
Cynthia Lai (#4)000000150
Iris Teng (#1)001000003
Nur Syathiran (#7)000000000
Melinda Chan (#7, Libero)N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A10
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VJC Team Totals51271319955313
Joan Lim (#10)261421032022
Heng Yan Jing (#9)651140110
Tan Xin Ying (#4)6333101100
Rachel Ramachandran (#7)404301120
Cheryl Lee (#12)420101000
Ashley Chong (#6)211100070
Lim Cen Yun (#3)212001200
Low Zuxian (#1)110010000
Eunice Tan (#2, Libero)N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A60

a-girls-volleyball-final-nyjc-vjc

Amanda (NYJC #10) spikes as Yan Jing (VJC #9) and Joan (#10) block. (Photo 2 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)

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