A day full of volleyball awaited the eager Tigers today as they rolled out of bed bright and early in the morning.  Both teams had an opportunity to really showcase their stuff in the many games they played through the day.  Here is a recap the entire day’s action for each team.

TIS Boys

After starting the tournament with a rough opening against XIS outdoors, the friendly indoor confines of the Fengjia University gym proved to be welcome change for the boys.  The boys started the day with a game against the hosts from ICA.  Strong offensive play from Marco Chak and Jack Huang provided the spark in a come from behind 2-1 win to start the morning.  The boys had to go the extra mile in the 3rd set with a final set score of 18-16.  The boys followed up their first win with another strong showing against HKA

First game vs. IVY

.  The boys really found their legs and played unbreakable team defense winning 2-0.  The boys then finished off round robin play with another 2-0 win against LIS.  The TIS boys finished off the round robin with a 3-1 record and found themselves in 2nd place and in a 1st vs. 2nd game against the only team to beat them at the tournament, XIS.

In the qualifying playoff game against XIS, the Tigers had an opportunity to exact a measure of revenge for their earlier loss in the tournament.  The boys managed to hang in with the defending champions spike for spike and dig for dig in all their sets.  However, XIS managed to squeak out 2 tight set wins.  The TIS boys have assured themselves of at least a bronze medal but have their eyes set on gold. In order to pick up gold, TIS will play the winner of the 3rd vs 4th place game tomorrow.  A win in the semi-final game will allow them a 3rd opportunity to match up against XIS, this time with gold on the line.

TIS Girls

The girls opened the tournament against IVY, and found themselves in tough against an experienced team.  Despite losing the first set, the girls never gave up and on the strength of a combined 11 team service aces and solid 9 point performance from Coco Chiang, managed to beat the IVY team 16-25, 25-20, 15-9.

Fresh off their tournament opening win, the girls were eager to build up the momentum in their second game against HKA.  With a stellar serving game by the girls, highlighted by a combined 8 aces between Coco Chiang and Sally Hao and a strong defense anchored by libero Genevieve Guimond, the girls picked up win #2 by a score of 25-19, 19-25, and 15-9

Go Tigers!

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There was little time for celebration as within a few hours the girls were at it again with their 3rd game against host ICA.  Drawing on their confidence from their earlier games, the TIS girls pounded out a straight sets win led by Mika Ao’s incredible 6 aces and Anyi Liebler-Bendix’s 2 kills.

Winning the first 3 games ensured the TIS girls a spot in 1st vs 2nd qualification playoff game at the end of the day even before their final game against the only other undefeated opponent at the tournament, XIS.  In what turned out to be a meaningless game in the grand picture of the playoffs, XIS squeaked out another 2 set win in the final round robin game.

The girls looked to get back to their winning ways in their next match, in a 1st vs 2nd playoff game against XIS merely 2 hours later.  Led by a strong offensive performance by Emily Varga and Clare Zarb, it appeared that for much of the match, the girls would secure a place in the finals.  Unfortunately, due to some unlucky bounces the girls missed out on a golden opportunity to cruise straight into the finals.

Much like the boys, the girls have assured themselves of at least a medal but similarly, have a particular colour in mind for the end of tomorrow.  The girls begin the day tomorrow with a critical semi-final match against the winner of ICA vs HKA, both of which are teams the girls have already conquered.  A victory in the semis takes them back to face their nemesis XIS, for the 3rd and final opportunity to topple XIS and claim gold.

The evening had been spent unwinding from volleyball and checking out a busy night market here in Taichung.  Some of our players will be coming home decked out in souvenirs from a wonderful evening at the night markets.  Tomorrow promises to be an exciting if not historic day, as TIS middle school volleyball hopes to bring home the first gold medals of this year.  Wish us luck!  GO TIGERS GO!