[VBALL 'B' DIV SZ] CATHOLIC HIGH VS QUEENSWAY SECONDARY

The 'B' division Volleyball team played their first match today against Queensway Secondary at Jurong West Sports Stadium.

The bus journey down from Bishan to Jurong West Sports Hall was a long one and in a way it was draining as the journey added a little sleepy potion to the boys psychic. The team was met by the large Jurong West Sports Complex which was five levels high with the spaces maximized to include a stadium, restaurants, swimming pool and of course the indoor sports hall where the competition was to be played.

The boys were all chill and cool about the match against Queensway Secondary and most of them were all at smiles and joking around. Complacency or were they well trained in the physical and mental? Their game showed what they really should be working on.

The warm up area at Jurong Sports hall wasn't that fantastic and the two teams were squeezed into the corner of the carpark, having to share a tiny space and were at the mercy of the weather. The boys after their warm up made a pact with their teacher to keep the opponents' score at 15 maximum and the boys said they could do it.

Warming up on court, the boys looked composed and poised and confident, especially when they started spiking down onto their opponents, their cheers roared the hall.


The team lost the first point to QSS and the subsequent 3 points, and CHS was always losing at least one point behind their opponents, the previous confident and roaring CHS volleyballers seem to turn to mice as the started to trail behind their opponents. Only Peijie had his competition persona on and Wayne was at all smiles, taking it easy, forgetting mistakes and looking forward to play a better ball the next time he touches it. Whereas, some members nursing injuries and old injuries seemingly became quieter and quieter.

It was only at the 7th point where CHS gained back her reign over QSS and started to roar up, the 1 point lead gave the CHS the added confidence to come back onto the game and to eventually win the set.The first se was taken down by CHS at: 25-17

Instead of coming out more determined and awaken form complacency or at least have settled their competition jitters, the CHS team seemed even more lost. Having the captain injure his thumb, their libero still inhibited by his ankle injury. Wayne, Anders, Peijie were the ones who shone with their spikes down to their opponents courts, not forgetting good blocking by Nicholas, Wayne, Xian Lun and Darius which helped in regaining more points.  However, 3 precious points were lost through service by Peijie, Nicholas and Aw Shen, which could have brought the score down to 25-18 instead, something the team has to work on to minimize especially in the more intense and challenging games ahead.

Communication between the members was another area the boys have to work with each other and they seem unwilling to talk at times on court when it was so necessary. There was a point of time where it was so dead pan that the spirit of CHS seem to have vapourized into thin air. Where was the passion and life? So much so that Aw Shen from the outside had to rope in to cheer the team on. Noise, cheers, passion, is what reminds us of why and what we are playing for not silence. When soldiers go to war, or when warriors of the past go into battle, they always have war cries, why? So as to fill up their courage, to pump up their courageous spirit and also to mentally psych themselves up for war!And in some sports, it helps to also intimidate their opponents even before the game, maybe CHS volleyball should follow some war cries like this:



Stupid looking? Nope, when you are psych up together as a team, when you become a psych yourself up like how a warrior psych himself up for war, in your sport, when you become blood thirsty for the win, that's where you unleash the beast (best) in you and power up more in one's game play. That's where when you cry out together as a TEAM the desires of your hearts, that everyone in the team communicates the common message and desire.Volleyball is no contact sport but I believe it is a sport that enhances the idea of the desperate need of teamwork more than anything since everything is played on one side of the court

That death silence on our part lethally killed CHS too as we as usual began to trail behind QSS at the start and was always playing catch up game to try to win over  a point with QSS. QSS coach played tactical play and tried to always break the CHS momentum whenever we were leading, it kind of succeeded in the end and at the last point of 24-21, CHS coach did the same tactic and broke the momentum of QSS's winning streak by calling a time out. Eventually, with a sigh of relief, the boys clinched the second set 25-21.

Was it a victorious win? No

Did it feel good winning? No

Is this B team one which is able to live up the vision set on them? Let's see...

Lessons learnt and areas of improvement:
Unity and cheering lacking.
Not being prepared and unable to get into competition mode in a snap.
Complacency and humility.
Respect for coaches, umpires and table officials. (Need to thank the coaches, teachers and table officials)

CHS VBALL 2011 B DIV, what will your response be for your next game?