Chia Hoong Ewe
It was the week of Spike and Strike, twelve volleyball teams filled the gymnasium, along with a spirited crowd, pondering the question, “which team is the best?”
Deafening spikes and squeaky shoes echoed throughout the gym. Sweat raced down each player's face as they desperately shuffled around the court to keep the ball in play. Despite it being the third Friday in a row for volleyball events, our varsity volleyball team still had the drive to win. And even though Penang State wasn't in the tournament, the competition was just as fierce.
Three teams stood out above the rest. If Spike and Strike was a cell, there were three mitochondria. The cohesively coordinated Chun Ling, the intensely quick Heng Ee, and the tenaciously sturdy SMK Perai. Though I supported Dalat wholeheartedly, the difference between those three times and the rest were as clear as night and day.
Dalat stood tall amongst Han Chiang and ICS Singapore. Against both teams, Dalat took the first set by a convincing lead. However, the second set appeared to go either way in both cases. As Daniel Kim (12) put it, “we've got to leave room to throw, or else it won't be a challenge.”
Dalat triumphed over them but unfortunately suffered their fair share of losses. Chun Ling steamrolled them with leads as far as 17 points. SMK Perai too proved to be difficult as Number 5 controlled the court. Dalat, however, managed a tight nail-biting game against Heng Ee, but alas were defeated.
Number 5 on Perai seemed like he single-handedly carried his team throughout the tournament. With his seemingly ambidextrous command of the ball and frightening strength, the crowd could only cheer in awe as he let a spike loose. His omnipresence on the court proved irritating to challengers as he covered for his teammates and dove for clutch receives.
Heng Ee also had an outstanding talent on their team. Number 7 conveyed the difference in experience between him and the rest. He made decisions confidently and without hesitation. Number 7 and Number 5 exhibited dumbfounding spiking prowess.
Both Perai and Heng Ee had their star players showcased. Not to take anything away from the rest of their teams but when these two schools faced off (arguably one of the best matches of the tournament), it seemed like a one-on-one between Titans. Even other teams cheered as their alluring plays drew more and more attention.
In all of this, however, Chun Ling was the one to take home the gold. Though Number 7 (Heng Ee) and Number 5 (SMK Perai) had the aptitude and potential to carry their teams, Chun Ling's balanced skillset and exceptional teamwork proved too much of a challenge.
All players on Chun Ling could hit hard, bump well, and think on the fly. Whenever the three teams played against each other, the competition resembled that of a semi-professional game. All three of these teams performed extraordinarily and produced some unforgettable matches as a result.
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