VOLLEYBALL

Annual ITE Volleyball Invitational
Wednesday, 18 July 2007, at Ang Mo Kio ITE
Friday, 20 July 2007, at Ang Mo Kio ITE

Story and pictures by Red Sports reader Bernard Han, a teacher of Catholic High. Thanks!

The annual event organised by ITE College West saw a total of eight teams competing. The participating teams played in the preliminary stage on Wednesday in two groups with the top two of each group qualifying for the semifinals on Friday. Catholic High School and Fairfield Methodist Secondary School qualified from Group A while Geylang Methodist Secondary School and Shuqun Secondary School qualified from Group B.


Fairfield Methodist players blocking a ball from Geylang Methodist. © Bernard Han

The first semifinal pitted Catholic High against Shuqun. Catholic High were slow to in picking up their game and allowed Shuqun to take the first set 25-22. However, the Catholic High boys were no pushovers and came back to take the second set 22 – 25, forcing the game into the decisive third set. Both teams played equally well and matched each other in terms of blocks and spikes. The score was close until the final minutes when Catholic High pulled away to win the set 15-11 to proceed to the finals.
 

Catholic High players warming up. © Bernard Han

In the other semifinal, Geylang Methodist proved to be no match for Fairfield Methodist with their tall and strong players and conceded both sets with scores of 25-12 and 25-14.
 
As the final match was about to begin, droplets of rain began to fall, giving both teams a much needed break on the outdoor courts at Ang Mo Kio ITE. When the match finally began, it was Fairfield Methodist who drew first blood with a thumping spike into the Catholic High court. Both teams were eager to win the first set and players from both sides went all out to attack, supported by a solid defending formation. There were few errors and when Catholic High began to extend their lead, Fairfield Methodist called for a time-out to break the momentum. It almost succeeded but Catholic High eventually won the set 25-21.
 


Melvin from Catholic High spiking as Fairfield Methodist players try to block. © Bernard Han

The second set took place with the same level of intensity as the ball was played from one half to the other consecutively before a point was scored. Slowly, Catholic High began dominate by stretching their lead to 4 points. Fairfield Methodist employed the same strategy again by requesting for a break, but the players from Catholic High, led by captain Chishun, were wise not to repeat their mistake and went back on court to take down two more points. There was no looking back as Catholic High maintained their concentration and superb plays to take down the second set 25-14 to claim the championship trophy.
 


Fairfield Methodist spiker fails to get past the Catholic High blockers. © Bernard Han