Libero Lya braves leg cramp to shine for Hwa Chong

Leading 2-1, Hwa Chong Institution were under the cosh after squandering a seven-point lead in the fourth game in their bid to win a fourth straight National School Games A Division girls' volleyball title on May 27.

- Samuel Tan

That was when regular libero, Lya Chua, suffered cramp in her legs, forcing her substitution, as the momentum swung the way of their opponents Nanyang Junior College.

As the gruelling game went to deuce, Lya decided to brave the pain and return to the court. The vocal presence of the 17-year-old proved to be the tonic her team needed, as Hwa Chong prevailed 3-1 (25-22, 25-22, 23-25, 30-28) at Our Tampines Hub.

"I got cramp in both my legs. But I wanted to do my part and I felt that my role at that point was on the court with my teammates, so that's why I decided to push through," said Lya, who admitted she would have played a fifth set despite her condition.