VOLLEYBALL

National B Division
Catholic High vs Sembawang Secondary
Thursday, 22 March 2007, at CCAB
Pictures by Leslie Tan. © Red Sports/soulbreath pictures

Match Report by Red Sports reader, Mr Ian Chew of Catholic High. Thanks, Ian!

Experience counts. Catholic High’s ‘B’ boys volleyball team proved that in a comfortable 25-14, 25-13 win over Sembawang Secondary in a national quarter-final match at CCAB.


Sembawang spiker (left) goes up against a Catholic High defense of no.11 Zi Ao and no.4 Filbert Kwek


Boasting a team of players that clinched last year’s ‘C’ Division national title together with some secondary 4 players, the Catholic High team was hardly tested in the game. Even though the scores were close at the start resulting in a 7-7 tie in the first set, the quality and composure of the Catholic High team soon prevailed. Their front row players, consisting of Melvin Goh, Samuel Ng and Lennis Seow spiked their way from there to take a 14-8 lead. Eventually, Sembawang lost the set 14-25.


A Sembawang spike goes through a Catholic High block.

The second set started in similar fashion with the Sembawang team determined to put up a better performance. They took a quick 2-0 lead with 2 wayward spikes by Samuel Ng, captain of the Catholic High team. He made no mistake with his third, however, gaining back one point for his team. Both teams then traded points until it was 5-4 in Catholic High’s favor, before Catholic reeled off the next 5 points to take a 10-4 lead.

A subsequent timeout by the Sembawang failed to stem the tide, however, and Catholic High went on to take an 18-9 lead. Sembawang gallantly fought back in a long rally to close the game to 11-18, but subsequently committed a series of mistakes to trail by 11-24. A fight back by Sembawang proved in vain as Catholic High eventually won the game 25-13 and the match as well.

Said Miss Zenia Zheng, the teacher-in-charge of the volleyball team: “The team showed more hunger and desire to win as this is the final year for the secondary four students to represent the school. Their composure, confidence and experience also told. It was a good match played by both teams. I hope they will continue to improve as they play the next crucial matches.”

Editor: If you recognise yourself or your team mates, please let me know the names so that I can update the captions. Thanks!