Cedar Girls' unbeaten streak ends after they fall to Anderson 2-1 in C Division volleyball quarter-finals

By Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

Presbyterian High School, Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - Defending champions Cedar Girls' Secondary were dealt their first loss of the season as they fell to Anderson Secondary in a Group Y quarter-final match of the National C Division Girls Volleyball Championship. Anderson earned themselves bragging rights after winning the match 2-1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-19).

The Anderson #8 fired a spike way too high in the first rally for Cedar to take the first point. However, a quick ball from her soon saw Anderson take the point back. Anderson took a two-point lead, but Cedar soon leveled at 3-3 after a spike from Melissa (Cedar #17) and a service ace from Cherie (Cedar #14). Cherie (Cedar #14) then served another ace to allow Cedar to take the lead. However, the Anderson #7 sent a light spike in the centre of Cedar's court to level the scores once again.

Anderson then pressed ahead, and took a 10-6 lead, forcing Cedar to call for a time out. However, it proved no reprieve for Cedar as Anderson continued to hold their opponents at the six-point mark. Cedar called for another time out at the 14-6 mark.

This marked the beginning of Cedar's comeback. Cedar went from 14-16 all the way to just one point away at 21-20, much to the frustration of the Anderson coach. Anderson were not going to allow Cedar to steal the game, and went all out to reach set point. Cedar were unable to organize a return on the next rally, and saw Anderson take down the first set.

Anderson's morale were on a high as they had become the first school this year to take a set off Cedar. They blitzed to a 6-0 lead, prompting for Cedar to call for a time out. Anderson were unable to organize a return and saw their scoring streak come to an end. Cedar took this chance to catch up, with Melissa (Cedar #17) blocking a shot by Anderson. Cedar eventually leveled 8-8 after Claire (Cedar #9) blocked a shot by the Anderson #7.

Anderson then sent a free ball out of bounds for Cedar to take the lead. Cedar turned the tables on Anderson and took an 11-8 lead, leading to a timeout by Anderson. The score remained close, with the scores tied at several points. The score stood at 19-19 after Guting (Cedar #6) deflected Vanessa’s (Anderson #4) serve out of bounds. However, Vanessa (Anderson #4) subsequently served out of bounds on the next rally to see Cedar take the lead again.

Cedar soon saw themselves at set point after the Anderson #1 was unable to receive a serve from Guting (Cedar #6). The Anderson #1 spiked out of bounds for Cedar to take the set.

Cedar were beginning to find their form, and started off the third set with a 10-2 lead. It took a drop shot from the Anderson #5 to put a stop to Cedar's scoring run. With the Anderson #7 in front, she took the chance to help the team catch up, and at the changeover, narrowed the score different to five points at 13-7.

After several good serves from the Anderson #7, Anderson narrowed the score gap to trail by just two points at 14-12. Anderson subsequently took the next point as well, and tied 14-14 with Cedar after a quick ball by the Anderson #8.

Anderson turned the tables on Cedar, and went ahead to take the lead. They were particularly taking aim at Cedar's libero Leng Yen and subset Celia (#1). On several occasions, they deflected Anderson's spike or serve out of bounds for Anderson to command a lead.

Cedar called for a time out at the 20-16 mark, but Anderson were going all out to take the match. They saw themselves at 23-17 after Cedar's libero Leng Yen could not receive a spike by the Anderson #8. They then reached match point after Cedar could not organize a return.

Cherie (Cedar #14) held off Anderson's win as a stray ball from her caught Anderson off guard. Jasmine (Cedar #11) then took another point for the team after she saw Anderson deflect her serve out of bounds. But it was not to be, as Melissa (Cedar #17) committed a net touch for Anderson to take the final point.

Despite the loss, Cedar still finish on top of Group Y due to a superior win-loss record. Though Cedar, Chung Cheng and Anderson have two wins and one loss each, Cedar have won a total of five sets from three games played whereas Chung Cheng and Anderson only have four. Chung Cheng move through to the semi-finals as they only dropped two sets whereas Anderson lost four.

Cedar Girls will play Group X runner up Dunman in the semi-finals on Thursday, April 1, 9am at Presbyterian High.

Group Y runner up Chung Cheng High (Yishun) will then play Group X champions Nanyang Girls at 10.30am after that.

Final Score
Anderson 2 Cedar 1
(25-21, 21-25, 25-19)

More photos in the gallery.

Editor’s note: If you recognise yourself or your team mates in any of the photos, please feel free to leave the names behind and we will update accordingly. Thanks!

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