National C Division Girls Final
Nanyang Girls’ High vs Ngee Ann Secondary
Wednesday, April 11, 2007, at Toa Payoh Sports Hall
Picture story by Lee Hwee Cheng.

These pictures have been contributed by our volunteering student-photographer, Jerome Teo.  Thanks, Jerome!


Ngee Ann’s Lyvia Loh jumps for the spike.  © Jerome Teo.

It was a battle of ‘fearlessness’ versus ‘pride’, when the underdogs took on the defending champions in the National C Division Girls Volleyball Final at the Toa Payoh Sports Hall on Wednesday afternoon.  Ngee Ann Secondary were the touted favorites once again, after capturing the National C Girls Championship title last year and the East Zone title this year.  They had arrived at the National Final victorious all the way.  On the other hand, Nanyang Girls’ High had not tasted a sweet spot in the top four standings at the National level, much less a stint as a National finalist, in all of 18 years.

The girls had all come in good spirits – one side knowing that underestimating the opponent would not win them a championship again; the other wanting to play to their deserved best, having come this far this season.  If there had been tears, they must have only been happy ones.

Ngee Ann brushed off a brief scare from the feisty Nanyang girls to bring home the trophy once again with a 3-1 (25-21, 24-26, 25-18, 25-19) victory.  (Editor: click here for the live report that captured the play-by-play action.)


Ngee Ann player attempts to block the attack.  © Jerome Teo.


Ngee Ann player makes a save.  © Jerome Teo.


Nanyang’s Lydia Seah (no.5) in action.  © Jerome Teo.


Nanyang’s Tiong Tingshan in action.  © Jerome Teo.


Nanyang’s Yiyuan (no.8) and Tingshan (no.3) boost each other’s morale on-court.  © Jerome Teo.

The jubilant Ngee Ann girls gushed to Red Sports after the game, "We believed we could win again this year, so we never gave up when we lost the second set.  We were probably tired then and committed many errors.  Our team morale is so high."

Ngee Ann’s Xue Er (no.18), Joan (no.3) and Carolyn (no.1) speak to Red Sports.  © Jerome Teo.

The girls attributed their win to the dedication of their coach and his wife, as well as the Nanyang Junior College volleyball girls, a ‘sister team’ who shares the same coach.

On the other side of the court, I would have expected to see a crestfallen team.  Instead, the Nanyang girls were looking more relieved and happy than anything else. 


Nanyang’s Tingshan (no.3) and Stephanie Ng (no.7) speak to Red Sports.  © Jerome Teo.

"We played really well today, considering we had never come this far for so long.  The opponents were really good too, they were much more consistent in their service than we had been.  But our team morale was really great today, we fought hard in the end.  We did everything as a team.  And this is only our beginning."

Editor’s note: If you do recognize yourselves or your friends in these pictures, let us know!  We’ll update the captions accordingly.  Thanks!