Presbyterian High School, Wednesday, 23 March, 2011 – Shuqun Secondary scored a sensational 15-25, 25-20, 25-17 win over St Hilda’s Secondary to book a place in the semi-finals of the National B Division Boys’ Volleyball Championship.

St Hilda’s, the defending B Division boys champions, had looked on course for a routine victory when they romped to an 8-2 lead. Shuqun looked distinctly uncomfortable in the early stages and compounded their misery with numerous unforced errors.

A tame hit into the net by Shuqun’s reserve player yielded the first set to St Hilda’s Sec 15-25.

However, Shuqun bounced back to take a 10-7 lead in the second quarter on the back of a resolute defence against St Hilda’s spikes.

Yet St Hilda’s showed their pedigree to claw back to an 11-11 tie. A mistake in a St Hilda’s service saw Shuqun take a 12-11 lead but two superb spikes from St Hilda’s players saw them take a 13-12 lead for the first time in the second set.

Uncharacteristically though, three consecutive errors by St Hilda’s resulted in Shuqun taking a 16-14 lead. Having seen enough, St Hilda’s coach called for a quick timeout.

It did not pay off though, as Shuqun increased their lead to 17-14. St Hilda’s were now seen throwing everything into offence to reclaim the set but Shuqun held firm to take a 20-16 lead, courtesy of a good spike from the Shuqun #3.

Yet the match showed its unpredictable nature as two clever spikes from St Hilda’s players saw them reduce the deficit to 20-18.

It was then time for Shuqun’s tallest player #6 to step up. He did just that with a powerful smash and coupled with a few mistakes by St Hilda’s, saw Shuqun take a 24-20 lead.

St Hilda’s #7, who had a good game thus far, then smashes the ball long to give Shuqun a 25-20 second set win.

Shuqun’s growing confidence saw them take an early 3-2 lead through an outstanding smash by Shuqun’s #10. The game was now neck and neck with only one point separating both teams.

Yet it was St Hilda’s that was looking increasingly rattled as Shuqun seemed to have an answer for all of St Hilda’s spikes. Shuqun then broke the deadlock to race ahead for a 13-9 lead in the decider.

With their inspirational spiker #6 still on the bench, Shuqun still managed to increase their lead to 16-12. A fortunate service then saw Shuqun take a 17-12 lead with all the breaks going their way.

A few errors from St Hilda’s resulted in Shuqun taking a huge 19-14 lead and St Hilda’s coach quickly called a timeout to address the situation. It failed to pay any dividends as Shuqun continued on their scoring streak for a 23-15 lead through a spike by their #6.

Another service winner saw Shuqun take a 24-15 lead and gain match point. Despite St Hilda’s winning the next two points, they could not prevent the inevitable.

Shuqun then sealed a famous comeback 25-17 third set win over St Hilda’s with a spike yet again by their #6 to qualify for the semi-finals.