By Tay Jun Wen/Red Sports
St. Hilda’s celebrating the final point won as they booked themselves a place in the final. (Photo 1 © Joseph Lee/Red Sports)
Presbyterian High School, Monday, April 3, 2013 — St. Hilda’s Secondary defeated Dunman Secondary 3–1 in the semi-final game of the National B Division Boys Volleyball Championship.
The first set started off slow with both teams neck and neck, as they tied at 5–5. Dunman sneaked ahead by scoring two, 5–7 but lost their lead quickly as St. Hilda’s showed their strength and went on a five-point run (10–7), with powerful spiking from their team captain, Royston Ho (#7).
From 10–7, the three-point lead was kept until 12–9. Dunman scored three in a row to break even at 12–12. The tie continued up till 17–17 whereby St. Hilda’s stretched ahead with a four-point break (21–17). Dunman made efforts to chase, but St. Hilda’s maintained their lead till 24–20. Dunman scored one more, before St. Hilda’s returned and won the first set 25–21.
The second set was even more exciting as Dunman opened with six unanswered points. Though St. Hilda’s were able to score one after, Dunman retaliated with two more. At 8–1, the tides changed. St. Hilda’s had a seven-point streak to make things even at 8–8. Dunman’s response was to follow it up with another four points.
Trailing 8–12, St. Hilda’s again had six straight points, giving them a 14–12 edge over Dunman. However, Dunman soon caught up at 14–14. Both teams tied up till 18–18. Three straight points were picked up by St. Hilda’s and the three-point gap was kept till 22–19. Dunman came close by scoring one point (22–20) but St. Hilda’s wrapped the game up by ending the set 25–21 with a three-point run.
Despite being down by two sets, Dunman fought on. In the third set, it was an early tie at 2–2. St. Hilda’s made two points, which Dunman returned only one. Leading 4–3, St. Hilda’s went ahead with a three-point streak, extending their lead to four points (7–3). With St. Hilda’s still having a four-point advantage at 8–4, Dunman made a four-point run to tie it at 8–8.
The tie was kept till 16–16. Dunman took the lead by scoring five consecutive points. St. Hilda’s tried to close the gap but still they trailed 17–22. They managed to score one more point, before Dunman had a three-point streak to snatch the third set at 25–18.
The fourth and final set saw St. Hilda’s take the lead for most of the game. Dunman was chasing, but unable to take the lead. Dunman managed to equalise with St. Hilda’s at 8–8 but three straight points were made by St. Hilda’s. The three point lead led up to 16–13.
St. Hilda’s burst forward with a four-point streak, extending their lead to seven points (20–13). Dunman put in their best but St. Hilda’s kept their lead and inched closer to winning the game. Still seven points behind at 24–17, Dunman bagged a point. However, St. Hilda’s returned with another and won the final set 25–18.
Dunman’s captain, Liew Jun Wan (#12), felt that his team has played well.
Jun Wan said: “We did not give up till the end.”
Captain of St Hilda’s, Royston (#7), commented: “We kept our fighting spirit high. Even though we lost the third set, we maintained our game play.”
“If we are able to maintain our tempo in the final like today, we should be alright,” added Royston.
In the final, St. Hilda’s will be facing Punggol Secondary, a team that they lost 1–2 in Round 2. The game will be held on this Friday, April 5, at Toa Payoh Sports Hall at 1.45p.m.
Score by Sets
Dunman Secondary vs St. Hilda’s Secondary
1st Set: 21–25
2nd Set: 20–25
3rd Set: 25–18
4th Set: 18–25
Dunman Secondary Roster
Seah Jun Wei Jeryl (#1), Sherman Toh Jia Wei (#2), Ong Chu Yao (#3), John Nazz A Gayamo (#4), Koh Chun Wei (#5), Lim Ray Hern Zachary (#6), Benjamin Neo Ser Teng (#7), Sim Chee Ann (#8), Hilson Lee Wei Siang (#9), Kenneth Lek Qi Yu (#10), Leo Ding Wei (#11), Liew Jun Wan (#12), Lim Chun Ming (#13), Ng Yan Long Bryan (#16)
St. Hilda’s Secondary Roster
Lim Chuan Zhi Darius (#1), Maguire Ong (#2), Lim Jing Qiang Dennis (#3), Adriel Tan Wen Zheng (#4), Jonathan Goh Qing Yan (#5), Neo Jia Cheng Aloysius (#6), Ho Zhe Wei Royston (#7), Tian Seet Khuen (#8), Kenneth Xu Jun Zhi (#9), Ho Lien Hong (#10), Lee Kang Yue Marc (#11), Clement Tan Kai Ern (#12), Chua Tian Wen Edwin (#13), Kazushi Fujiwara (#14)
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