Pubz Comm Reporter: Grace Chan 

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               The girls were excited as they had a chance to beat Temasek Hall (TH) to advance into the semi-finals as we only lost narrowly to Sheares Hall on Monday evening. However, TH proved to be the better team when they defeated Sheares in the preliminary rounds. With that, KE7 girls knew they had to watch out for TH this evening.

                The starting six for the match against TH were Qian Hong, Kim, Stella, Wan Ling, Mei Hui and Hui Ann. TH did not waste any time in getting their first point. TH is definitely the better team compared to Sheares and our girls had to make an effort in getting the first point. With the score in TH’s favour, our team called for time-out to regroup the girls and to calm down their nerves. This worked as we slowly inched up the scoreboard. Nevertheless, it was not enough as we ourselves were making a lot of mistakes which gave TH an advantage. Qian Hong and Stella each made a gallant save for the ball by running out of the court. Their efforts were rewarded when we managed to clinch a point after volleying the ball over the net. Sadly, we lost the 1^st set by 11-25.

In the 2^nd set, the girls were more nervous as they knew they either will make it or break it. As such, TH slowly began to gain points. Most of our services did not get over the net and we failed to get the first ball up. One could see the tension on Mei Hui’s face when it was her turn to serve. With a deep breath, she threw the ball up and hit it and it was over the net! The look of relief on her face said it all. During the 2^nd set, Qian Hong was substituted by Michelle for a while. TH spikes proved to be too much for the girls as we found it hard to retrieve them. With that, we lost the 2^nd set by 6-25.

It was understandable that the girls were disappointed with the loss but through it all, they managed to form a bond among themselves. Qian Hong, the captain for the female volleyball team would like to express her gratitude to the girls for coming down for training and being a part of this year’s volleyball team. This year’s line and formation was definitely better than last year’s and one can only hope for more improvement next year. KE7 whoosh!

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Males: KE vs EH 0 - 4

Males KE vs RH: 0 - 2

Females KE vs TH: 0 - 2

Pubz Comm Reporter: Jason Lun Leung

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Photo courtesy of KE Photographers

This Tuesday, KE had its second football match against Sheares Hall. We went into the game with fierce determination, as we had lost the first match and absolutely needed to win to keep our hopes of making it through alive.

The game started quite well, given that everybody was so nervous. The two sides were quite evenly matched, with KE dominating slightly. KE managed to restrict the number of attempts from Sheares, while managing to carve most openings. The best of the bunch must have been when Hu Song hit the post after some intricate build up play. Also, Andy forced the Sheares’ keeper into a nice reflex save when he headed from close range after Hansley swung in a perfectly adjusted corner. Our only scare came when our defence stopped chasing a ball that they believed should have been called offside and thus left our keeper in a one on one. Terence rushed out and confidently dealt with the situation, thereby keeping us in the game. Overall, saying that Sheares managed to hold on to the draw and reach half time with the score still at 0-0 would be a fair assessment.

During the half-time talk, the team members were quite disappointed with not having scored, but everybody was fully aware that the game was there for the taking. If we kept on creating occasions, we were bound to score at one point. Contrary to the first game, when everybody was exhausted, the players still felt good, as, today, the pitch was much better suited to our style of play. We all cheered ourselves up, and thus, everybody came back on the pitch with renewed determination.

Luckily, the first goal came soon enough, when H broke through the opposition and beat the onrushing keeper to open the score with an audacious lob. Many supporters invaded the pitch and ran towards him in wild celebrations. First goal to KE, and we were back into the IHG competition with a shout!

Fully aware of the need to keep pushing forward and to get another goal, the KE players were determined not to get complacent. However, we were stopped in our tracks when the referee whistled for a penalty after a scuffle in our penalty box. With everybody in red protesting against the validity of this call, the Sheares penalty taker started his run and blasted his shot in. The equalizer had come against the flow of the game, and we were back to square one.

Memories of our first match, where everything had started to unravel from that point on, came back to haunt us. This time, however, we were determined to win, and took this as a wake up call. We set to the task with new vigor, chasing every ball and closing down the opposition well. With our constant pressing, it was no surprise when H gave us the advantage again. This goal relieved everybody, as we had obviously been very taken aback by the conceded penalty. From then on, we were content to play to our strengths and take control of the game. Hansley and Raymond were as energetic as ever, Kevin made several darts down the left flank, Remus held on to the ball expertly and H was giving headaches to the Sheares defence every time he ventured forward with the ball. In the end, we managed to hold on to the win quite comfortably, and when the referee whistled for the end of the match, some of us were even disappointed at not having scored more.

The most important thing is that we have reacted well to our defeat in the first match, and we have been able to show our true worth in this game. Moreover, the players really enjoyed today’s game, and the post- match atmosphere was very good, as everybody was very proud of a well- done job, which gives us a good chance of making it through.

All in all, we are very happy with this deserved victory, but we also know that we can do even better. Hopefully, we can show it in future matches but, for the time being, we will simply celebrate this victory, knowing that we gave our best and came out with the expected results.

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Pubz Comm Reporter: Grace Chan 

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After a short break due to Chinese New Year, Inter-Hall Games are back! Our girls’ volleyball match against Sheares Hall was held in SRC on 11 February 2008. Our starting six girls were Qian Hong, Kimberly, Stella, Wei-Tse, Wan Ling and Mei Hui. Sheares is known for their prowess in volleyball and it is no wonder that our girls were a bit nervous in the 1^st set. At the score of 1-8 in Sheares’s favour, Yi Fei from our male volleyball team decided to call time out. This was to gather the girls and give them some pep talk to calm their nervousness. This strategy worked as our girls slowly gain their confidence back!

Among the few highlights from the 1^st set was a good drop ball from Wan Ling, our setter. Both Mei Hui and Qian Hong ran for the ball whenever they had the chance to do so. There was lots of good blocking from the team. In fact, Kim managed to block twice and we slowly inched our way up the scoreboard with a score of 9-14. However, Wan Ling strained her muscle. Still, with grit and determination, she continued playing on for the team. Our team attacked Sheares with spikes from Stella, Kim and Mei Hui. Their efforts did not go in vain as we ended the 1^st set with a score of 17-25.

In the 2^nd set, nervousness got the better of our girls again as we trailed Sheares with a score of 3-7. We seemed unable to get the first ball up. Nevertheless, our girls persisted. A drop ball by Kim got the crowd cheering for them and at this point, the score was 7-11 in Sheares’s favour. A time out by our team was called again when we were trailing by 9-17 to regroup the girls. With encouragement from the captain, Qian Hong, our team blazed the scoreboard with 6 consecutive points with Stella serving. This time, Sheares called for a time out as they were only leading with a score of 21-17. When the game resumed, the highlight was the brilliant save by Stella. She dived and hit the ball up and ended with bruises on her legs.  However, with Sheares getting back their confidence, we lost the 2^nd set with a score of 18-25.

Although the girls lost, the entire volleyball team made significant improvements in their game as we had spiking, blocking, rotation moves which were not much seen in last year’s match. Not to forget, Sheares is reputedly the best among the 6 halls, and last year, we actually lost to them with a score of 2-25 and 3-25. All in all, the girls deserve a pat on the back and we are excited to see what is store for the preliminary match against Temasek Hall this coming Friday!

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