Written by: Gladys Loo Edited by: Leung Lok Heng & Choa Zhao Xiang Photos by: EusoffWorks
The male volleyball team played their second match of the IHG season on 2 February 2020 against Sheares Hall, and won overall with an impressive score of 3-0. Before the match started, everyone in the crowd could most definitely feel the surging energy from the players as they warmed up on court, with unmissable looks of confidence on their faces! After approximately 20 minutes of warmup, the whistle sounded, signalling the start of the match.
First set: 25-11 to Eusoff
Players Mark Shen, Zhao Xiang, Lok Heng, Pei Jie, Irfan, Zhe Wei and Tzi Wah stepped on court and took their spots. The boys started the first set off strong, with service aces and spikes, bringing the score up to 5-1. They were on the ball and kept the wide score margin, which eventually grew to 11-3. By the time the score reached 15-6, Zhe Wei had already made about 3 successful spikes! (all the dancing the previous day definitely did NOT wear him out!) The second half of the set was littered with sick drops from IVP & SEA Games Player Mark Shen, which caught the opponents off guard every single time. Eusoff ultimately bagged the first set with a spike from Zhe Wei!
EH 1:0 SH
All it took from Mark was deft touches.
Second set: 25-20 to Eusoff
The second set did not begin as smoothly as the first, as the team found themselves tied with Sheares at 7-7. One of the taller players on the opponent’s team undoubtedly had a very powerful spike in his arsenal, hence winning them quite a few points from Eusoff. Nonetheless, the score did not prevent Mark Shen from making his iconic drops, and Lok Heng from making his powerful spikes.
The excellent plays by Lok Heng were extremely hard to defend. Sheares barely converted any of his spikes.
Tension could be felt amongst those watching on as the score became 8-9 to Eusoff and the team found themselves lagging behind for the first time in IHG, by one point. The volleyballers did not back down and put up an even stronger fight, making a comeback and turning things back around almost instantly as the score became 19-15. There was undeniable chemistry between every player on court as they calmly hit the ball to one another, creating the perfect opportunities for flawless attacks. Our team won the second set with a tight score of 25-20 as Sheares made a mistake.
EH 2:0 SH
Third set: 25-20 to Eusoff
The final set got everyone sitting on the edges of their seats for sure. It was the deciding match for Eusoff’s win, and we watched on as Mark Shen calmly dropped the ball into the opponent’s court with a straight face (without flinching at all), winning the first point for Eusoff. A string of mistakes on our team’s part caused the team to lag behind, with the score being 8-11. The Sheares players were visibly in better form and chemistry than they were in the first and second set, and they stayed in the lead for most of the set, leading 17-20.
The volleyballers eventually found themselves tied with Sheares at 20-20 – they had caught up with service aces by IVP player Pei Jie! Every single one of the next 5 points sent the crowd roaring as our team slowly, but surely, emerged victorious, coming back from a losing end to win 8 points in a row! The set ended with errors by Sheares and a drop ball by the captain, Zhao Xiang!!!
EH 3:0 SH
Great job to the volleyballers for making it into the semifinals with nothing but pure effort, hard work and amazing teamwork! (not forgetting talent of course) They definitely showed everyone the true meaning of resilience with their performance.
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