WHEN Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) faced volleyball kingpins Nanyang Junior College in the Schools National A Boys' final yesterday, their chances of winning were minimal.

Nanyang's track record was glittering: Four titles in five years since 2004, and they were seeking a third straight crown.

HCI had last won in 1996, when they defeated Jurong JC.

It was therefore a stirring moment when HCI pulled off a stunning 3-1 win at the Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall.

But victory did not come easily. HCI started nervously, losing the frenetic opening set 27-29, although they had superior spiking power.

Said HCI's captain Samuel Ng: 'After the first set, our coach took us aside and made us calm down and re-focus.

'We gave our all after that because we desperately wanted to win - it's been so long since we've had a chance to claim the title.'

That hunger to end their 13-year drought was evident when they upped their tempo and aggression, catching Nanyang off-guard.

They won the subsequent sets 25-12, 25-16, 25-20 amid rapturous cheering from their schoolmates.

The Nanyang players, who wore a dogged expression throughout, subsequently struggled to contain their tears.

Said their captain Lim Chun Wei: 'We lost focus in the second set partly due to nerves and partly to the pressure we were under to win.

'It's heartbreaking to lose, but we had fought as hard as we could.'

In the Girls' final, Nanyang swept past Victoria JC 25-19, 25-23, 25-22 to reclaim the title they last won in 2003.

VALERIE CHIA

This article was first published in The Straits Times.