VOLLEYBALL

North Zone ‘B’ Division Girls Finals
Presbyterian High vs Sembawang Sec
Thursday, 15 February 2007, Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall

Text by Coach Dick Yip.  Pictures by Leslie Tan.  © soulbreath pictures

Sembawang Secondary beat Presbyterian High 25-15, 27-25 in a thrilling final to win the Girls North Zone ‘B’ Division Volleyball title.

Sembawang Sec spiker, no.2, in action against Presbyterian High

Presbyterian High came to YCK Sports Hall with immaculate volleyball credentials. They finished among the top two at National Schools level for the last 3 years (they were National Champions in 2005).  At the zone level, they captured the title for the last 3 years, 2004 – 2006.  Looking formidable in all-black uniforms, they looked every inch like defending champions.

Facing them, attired in white tops, was the team from Sembawang Secondary, a relatively young volleyball playing school.  Sembawang Sec’s collective dream was to topple the giant from her lofty perch and in so doing etch their own name on the trophy.  To achieve that they needed to play at a level above themselves and above their mighty rivals.  And so they did.

Presbyterian High’s libero

Sembawang Sec took an early lead in the opening minutes of the 1st set.  Surprisingly, they were more relaxed than their jittery counterparts who committed more errors.  Presbyterian High did not settle down well even as the set progressed.  Timeout calls served the Sembawang bench well as their coach and teachers used the breaks to further encourage, calm and motivate their players. The Sembwang players combined well, showing good teamwork, an effective defence and a potent attack to take the set  25-15.

Sembawang Sec’s bench call a timeout to encourage and steady their players

It was a different Presbyterian High at the start of the 2nd set. With the loud cheers of their supporters behind them, they made a battle of it. There was hardly more than a point separating the two sides at this early stage.  At 7-7, a good spike and another good block gave Presbyterian High a 9-7 lead forcing a timeout by Sembawang.  This didn’t help much as Sembawang made two consecutive errors bringing the score to 11-7 in Presybterian High’s favour.  However, a couple of mistakes by Presbyterian High brought the score to 14-12 which led to a timeout call by their bench.  

When play resumed, a well placed spike by Sembawang’s no.12 brought the score to 14-13.  However, Presybterian High then took the next 2 points through a spike by their no.7 and a service ace by their no.16.  Sembawang fought back and took the next 3 points to catch Presbyterian High at 16-16 with their no.3, Eva Tan, serving two aces.

Presbyterian High’s no.16 serves up an ace

At this point, a Presbyterian High miss allowed Sembawang to take the lead for the first time in this set at 17-16, a psychologically important turning point.  Good play by Presbyterian High turned the tide back in their favour and they lead 20-18.  However, two errors in a row –  a missed spike and a missed drop  – brought the scores level again at 20-20.

The spectators from both camps were on the edge now. Not one point was separating the two sides. I expected a timeout call soon but it never came until later.   The tension was not only felt but seen everywhere, especially on the faces of the players and their bench.  More heart-stopping excitement was to come still.

Sembawang’s Eva Tan (no.3), and her teammate Lynette Sim (no.12) return to court after a timeout

An error on the part of both teams brought the score to 21-21.  The two teams then engaged in an extremely long rally that was won by Presbyterian High.  The score was now 22-21 in Presbyterian High’s favour.  Another good spike by Prebyterian’s no.16, Shu Mei drove the score to 23-21. Presybterian High then missed a spike, allowing Sembawang to creep up to 23-22.  Then a tremendous spike by Presbyterian High’s no.11, Jeline Chia brought the score to set point, 24-22.

Presbyterian High’s Jeline Chia serving against Sembawang Sec

At this stage, many SMB supporters were nervously biting their fingers, perhaps thinking, "So, so near, yet so far!"  I wouldn’t be surprised that many on both sides would have crossed their hearts or closed their eyes to shut out what they thought was the inevitable conclusion.   In their darkest hour, Sembawang Sec needed to find and produce courage and inspiration for the next point to stave off defeat.  Could they do it?

Presbyterian High served for the set, the ball sailed over the net nicely, Sembawang retrieved, set it up and up jumped no.10, Wenny Lim, to break the Presbyterian High supporters’ hearts with a powerful spike.  It was now 24-23, in Presbyterian High’s favour.

Sembawang then regained serve and in the return rally, Wenny again rescued them with another spike to level the score 24-24.   At this point, it was anyone’s game.  Whichever side that held their nerves better would triumph.  Simple as that.  Sembawang served, Presbyterian High tried a drop.  It missed.  Sembawang led 25-24.  Presbyterian High called a timeout.  Players huddled around their coaches. They were a point away from losing their grip on the title.   When play resumed, Sembawang served, a rally ensued, then a Sembawang spike went out.  Presbyterian High sighed in relief.  Both teams were now even at 25-25. 

Presbyterian High served, the ball sailed over and out of court.  Sembawang were back into the lead, 26-25.  Great sighs of anguish abounded.  Sembawang, on the verge of a great victory, kept their cool.  They dug in, set up the ball perfectly for their no.5, Captain Koh Gui Xin, to send the ball down powerfully through the desperate arms of Presbyterian blockers into the right corner, bringing this thrilling and unforgettable, roller-coaster encounter to a victorious close for Sembwang Secondary.

For me, covering the action close up, there were two sets of winners on the court that day. Both Sembawang Secondary and Presbyterian High deserved full credit for the top quality performance, especially in the 2nd set.

For the record, in the Girls ‘C’ Division, Presbyterian High are the North Zone champions, followed by Chung Cheng High (Yishun), Xinmin Secondary and Sembawang Secondary.

Editor’s note:  In cases where we have only identified the number and not the names of the players, please let us know the names of the persons so that we can improve the match report.  Also, please provide your team’s list so that we can put it into the match report.  Thanks. 🙂

More action shots in the Picture Gallery.