Story by Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports. Photos by Lai Jun Wei and REDintern Joseph Lee/Red Sports

north-zone-b-girls-volleyball

Ong Lee Ting (Anderson #1) stops a spike by Chung Cheng High (Yishun). (Photo 1 © Joseph Lee/Red Sports)

Presbyterian High, Thursday, January 26, 2012 — Presbyterian High, Anderson Secondary and Xinmin Secondary have cemented top spot in their respective groups in the North Zone B Division Girls’ Volleyball Championship after winning all their Round One matches.

Presbyterian High took top spot in Group A after sweeping aside CHIJ St Joseph’s Convent (SJC) 2-0 (25-11, 25-7). They had blitzed to a 11-0 lead in the first set before SJC got their first point. The North Zone defending champions controlled the subsequent rallies and quickly wrapped up the match.

Xinmin also booked their spot in the second round as they finished on top of Group C after a decisive 2-0 (25-4, 25-7) win over Fuchun Secondary. Sembawang Secondary also progressed to the next round as Group C runners-up after a 2-0 (25-6, 25-10) victory over Yishun Secondary.

In Group B, Anderson Secondary grabbed first place without dropping a set as they beat Chung Cheng High (Yishun) 2-0 (25-20, 25-13) in their final match of the round. Anderson capitalised on Chung Cheng’s errors as they took the game with 23 kills, seven blocks and four service aces. Chung Cheng were not far behind in the attack department with 18 kills, but they were let down by 19 errors.

Anderson had started the match with the lead after mistakes from Chung Cheng High but Wen Ting (CCHY #8) closed the gap with two drop shots. Yan Ning (CCHY #1) scored several points as she exploited a hole in Anderson’s defenses, leading to a close scoreline.

Midway through the set however, Anderson took control and raced ahead to lead 22-14, prompting a time out from Chung Cheng. Anderson were soon at set point after a spike from the outside by Lee Ting (Anderson #1), but a stubborn Chung Cheng refused to buckle as they held off Anderson for four consecutive points.

In the subsequent rally at 24-19, both teams engaged in a arduous rally. Anderson came close to taking the final point but they were left waiting just a little bit longer as they sent their spike out of bounds.

However, their morale was not dampened as they grabbed the next point after Lee Ting (Anderson #1) successfully blocked a spike from Chung Cheng’s backcourt.

The start of the second set was another close encounter as both teams were neck at neck at 6-6. Jolly (Anderson #4) led Anderson’s attack as she pounded Chung Cheng with her powerful spikes. Gradually, Anderson managed to edge forward and from then on, never looked back as they raced ahead to eventually win the set 25-13.

Chung Cheng now lie second in Group B with six points. A win in their final match against Woodlands Secondary will see them through to the next round along with Anderson.

Final Score
Anderson 2 Chung Cheng High (Yishun) 0
25-20, 25-13

Anderson vs Chung Cheng High (Yishun) - Match Statistics

Points scored (Total)KillsHit ErrorsBlocksBlock ErrorsService AceService FaultDefensive ErrorsUnforced Errors
Anderson Team Totals34236734240
Jolly Chan (#4)1181211100
Denise Lee (#7)951212000
Ong Lee Ting (#1)951410000
Cally Lim (#16)322001000
Anderson #2330100000
Anderson #14000000020
Anderson #3 (Libero)N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A20
----------
Chung Cheng High (Yishun) Team Totals231811213403
Teng Yan Ning (#1)973111001
Wen Ting (#8)980100002
Ng Pei Ru (#4)220002000
Vanessa Yi (#3)001000100
Chung Cheng High #7112000200
Chung Cheng High #11111000100

Results of the day
Christ Church beat Hougang 2-0 (25-18, 25-18)
Sembawang beat Yishun 2-0 (25-6, 25-10)
Punggol beat Woodlands 2-0 (25-12, 25-21)
Xinmin beat Fuchun 2-0 (25-4, 25-7)
Anderson beat Chung Cheng High (Yishun) 2-0 (25-20, 25-13)
Presbyterian High beat CHIJ SJC 2-0 (25-11, 25-7)

Group standings [Teams who win by a scoreline of 2-0 are awarded 3 points. Those who win 2-1 are awarded 2 points while their opponents are awarded 1 point]

Group APlayedWonLostPoints
1Presbyterian High44012
2Evergreen3216
3CHIJ St Joseph's Convent3123
4Christ Church3123
5Hougang3030

Group BPlayedWonLostPoints
1Anderson44012
2Chung Cheng High (Yishun)3216
3Punggol3123
4Woodlands Ring3123
5Woodlands3030

Group CPlayedWonLostPoints
1Xinmin3308
2Sembawang3217
3Yishun3123
4Fuchun3030

north-zone-b-girls-volleyball

Tang Kim Choo (Xinmin #7) spikes from the centre. (Photo 2 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)