VOLLEYBALL

National ‘A’ Division Girls
Nanyang Junior College vs St Andrew’s Junior College
Wednesday, 9 May 2007 at CCAB

A dramatic turnaround by Nanyang Junior College (NYJC) helped them beat St Andrew’s Junior College 2-1 (22-25, 25-19, 25-20) to send the Saints crashing out of the second round.

With both teams being defeated by AJC, the match was of special significance as a loss would put the loser out of the semi finals. While NYJC pulled out all the stops in getting supporters, it was the Saints who started very brightly as their tall players were rampant with their high balls. NYJC were unable to cope and lost the first set 22-25 even after a gallant fight.

As the game went on, it was the tension that got the better of the Saints and they had trouble wrapping up their match. An error strewn streak allowed NYJC to pull back a set at 25-19, before the Saints finally crumbled 25-22 in the decisive third set, much to the delight of the NYJC travelling support.

NYJC qualify together with Anderson Junior College (AJC), whose easy 2-0 win against minnows Pioneer Junior College meant they consolidated first place, and avoided an unwanted rematch against a rampant Hwa Chong Institution (HCI), whose beat Victoria Junior College (JVC) on the same day.

Pre-match analysis of the upcoming semi-finals:

AJC-VJC: A pretty even game, but AJC should win with a right mix of players, with proven ball winners and a strong attack. That doesn’t mean VJC will not put up a fight.

NYJC-HCI: The rematch of last year’s final. NYJC can be very organized against a rampant HCI, who remain the only team with an unbeaten run. But NYJC have  a tendency to take at least a set to familiarize with stronger opponents. Against a predatory HCI side, time may not be on their side.