Story by Lai Jun Wei and REDintern Rachel Ariel Lim. Photos by Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports.
A GMSS player fires a shot into the Anderson block. (Photo 1 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Hougang Sports Hall, Thursday, October 30, 2008 – Geylang Methodist Secondary (GMSS) defeated Anderson Secondary in a close encounter to win 2-1 (25-13, 17-25, 16-14) in a Group A Match at the 2008 National Under-16 Boys Junior Volleyball Championship.
In the warm up, both teams looked formidable, each firing off thunderous spikes into their opponent’s court during the free-spiking session. Anderson, coached by Mr Lim who also is in charge of primary school volleyball powerhouse Pei Chun Public, had #12, #14 and #17 who looked like potential threats. The Geylang Methodist team on the other hand looked to have a balance in terms of skill.
GMSS proved to be better in the first set as they quickly pulled into the lead. Though the first few points were long rallies, the Anderson team would sometimes falter at the very end. Anderson tried to organise several back court attacks, but their spikers seemed relatively tense, sending many shots out of bounds.
Ryan Zhang (GMSS, #4) served many good balls to rake up many points for his team. At the 21-9 mark, Anderson #10 spiked a strong one from the outside which was touched out by the GMSS blocker. This was repeated in the next point with a spike down the line instead to bring Anderson to double digits at 11-21.
Leading 23-11, GMSS #12 served a light shot which was picked up with some difficulty by Anderson. Looking to get to set point, GMSS set up their attack for GMSS #11. However, his spike was stopped short by the net to give Anderson their 12th point.
Anderson tried to fight back, with their #13 spiking from the centre into an empty space to make it 13-23. With the game at 24-13, the Anderson #12 had the task of keeping his team’s interest in the set alive. However, upon releasing the ball, he stepped on the service line, committing a foul to give GMSS the set 25-13.
Anderson came back strongly in the second set to win it 25-17 to bring the game into a rubber. Momentum was with Anderson and they soon led 9-3. However, Anderson could not hold their lead.
Errors and nerves on the part of the Anderson players allowed GMSS to draw level at 9-9 after the Anderson #17 saw his shot go wrong again. From then on, the two teams rallied back and forth, neck and neck before GMSS had just that little bit more to get ahead at a crucial stage of the set to lead 15-14 before wrapping up the close victory over Anderson.
Final score: 2-1 (25-13, 17-25, 16-14)
The GMSS #12 just spikes the ball past the Anderson #12. (Photo 2 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
The Anderson #17 prepares to spike from the outside while the Ryan Zhang (GMSS, #4) stands by to block. (Photo 3 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
The Anderson #13 and #17 put up a strong wall against GMSS. (Photo 4 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Daryl Tay (GMSS, #17) hooks a ball back for an attack. (Photo 5 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Editor’s note: If you recognise yourself or your team mates in any of the photos, please feel free to leave the names behind in the comments section and we will update the captions accordingly. Thanks!
no 17 is Daryl Tay
no 4 is Ryan Zhang
no 2 is Nathan Liang
no 7 is Ryan Wong
Cheers !
I dont know who used our school name is such rude manner.
HMPH !
Story edited to remove the melodrama. 😉
my bad. 11 is the setter. i remember wrongly. sorry. thanks for changing the story. By the way photo 2 is #17. not #12
BTW. the setter is # 11. Lol.
WONDERFUL.
I just received an email from a Geylang Methodist player indicating that we have messed up the part on the last set as to who won.
Just to clarify, Geylang Methodist won the third set 16-14, NOT Anderson as previously reported. The post has been updated as accordingly.
We apologise for the error made.
As to gmss’s comment, I understand that you are significantly upset, but please control your choice of words. The REDintern who wrote the post was new to volleyball and I’d give her the benefit of the doubt. We are all volunteers here who hope to provide some form of coverage for the benefit of everyone. Inevitably, we do make mistakes. We are all humans.
For your claim that Anderson #17 is a setter, so how can he be spiking, you can refer to Photo 3, which clearly shows that it is Anderson #17 who is spiking.
However, if anyone is able to substantiate their claim that we are wrong, please do let us know. Thanks.
Regards
Jun Wei
Red Crew
how can anderson #17 be striking spikes when he is setter?? i think the story is another way round
photo 2 is #17
i am a gmss player. Gmss won the game
hey redsports! anderson didnt won. gmss won the last set 16 -14. what the hell was that about??
max, you are right. Geylang Methodist took the first set. It must have been the way the post was written that made it seem not clear. Apologies. Edited it already. 🙂
max let it go man!
i am not doubting anderson / geylang’s abilities or anything. but the article doesn’t make sense if anderson won the match.
yup, anderson won the match. nice game actually.
“At the 24-13 mark, Anderson #12 had the task of prolonging the match. However, upon releasing the ball, he was fouled for stepping on the service line. The set ended 13-25.”
So Geylang won this set?
“Final score: 2-1 (25-13, 17-25, 16-14)”
So now who won the game?
We had an intern watching the game and according to her, Anderson won. However as she is new to the sport, there is a slight possibility that she might have made a mistake. If we did, we sincerely apologise and would appreciate it if someone would let us know. Thanks! 🙂
as stated anderson won lor
are you sure that anderson won O_O
photo #5 is number 17 not 5.