UP lands NUNS athletes Kianne Olango and Yesha Noceja

Yesha x Kianne c/o UP OASD

Two of the biggest uncommitted student-athletes have locked in their collegiate destinations.

Kianne Olango and Yesha Noceja have decided to take their talents to Diliman and commit to the University of the Philippines on Tuesday, the school reveals. Both will be eligible to play in the upcoming season, which UP will be serving as hosts.

Olango was the Most Valuable Player in Season 85 and was named as Season 86's Best Opposite Hitter. As the captain of the National University-Nazareth School, she helped lead the Lady Bullpups to the finals in the last couple of seasons, winning the title in Season 85. The 5'8" spiker is considered as one of the bright prospects for Philippine volleyball, according to Alyssa Valdez.

Kianne shares about her commitment, "I'm very thankful for the learnings I got from my time in NUNS. At the same time, sobrang excited ko lang din pong makapag-aral sa UP para sa future ko while also doing whatever I can to help out (WVT)."

Also 5'8", Noceja is a product of the Palarong Pambansa and was a key cog for the Lady Bullpups.

Yesha says, "Malaking bagay pong makakapag-prepare kami para sa future namin on- and off-court sa school na nag-e-excel in both athletics and academics. Thank you very much to NUNS para sa lahat ng nagawa nila para sa'min."

Both have expressed eagerness to prepare for their off-court future in a school with a proud tradition of Honor and Excellence.

With the two high school prospects locked in, UP Volleyball program director Oliver Almadro shares, "When you build a program, you need players with talent, determination, and leadership. Ganyan na ganyan yung maitutulong sa'tin ni Yesha and Kianne, as well as all our recruits. The UP volleyball program is really thankful they chose us."

Before landing the NUNS student-athletes, the program backed by Strong Group Athletics and the UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development recently secured the commitments of Jothea Mae Ramos from Bacolod Tay Tung High School and Joanneesse Gabrielle Perez from Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu in a bid to make a return to the postseason, something they last pulled off in Season 79 with the likes of Tots Carlos and Isa Molde.