NU claims Game 1 in women's volleyball finals

c/o UAAP

Games Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

2 p.m. – UST vs NU (Men Finals)

4 p.m. – NU vs UST (Women Finals)

National University is at the cusp of completing its redemption tour on Saturday, securing Game 1 of the UAAP Season 86 Women's Volleyball Finals against the University of Santo Tomas, 25-23 25-20 25-20, Saturday inside a packed SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Head coach Norman Miguel says about the victory, "Masayang masaya kasi nauna na kami sa Game 1. Nag work yung game plan kahit papaano naapply namin so masayang masaya."

The match took a turn in the second set, when Angge Poyos suffered a right ankle injury stepping on Em Banagua's foot after a block play with the game tied at 11. The true freshman needed assistance as she was helped out off the court and did not return.

With UST needing to adjust without their key spiker, NU rode on Alyssa Solomon, Vange Alinsug, and Bella Belen to eke out the second set victory, capped by a Sheena Toring's slide attack at set point.

The Golden Tigresses made a valiant stand in the third, managing to cut the deficit to 19-21 off back-to-back NU errors, but Toring and Alinsug settled things down to finish off the match after almost a couple of hours.

Belen notes post-match, "Siguro for Game 2 hindi kami dapat makampante, kailangan isipin namin syempre UST yan, palaban yung team na yan kailangan yung mindset namin is tapusin na namin sa Game 2. Kailangan hindi na namin paabutin ng do-or-die pa."

The Season 84 MVP contributed thirteen points and eight digs, with Alyssa Solomon leading the change with fourteen attacks and three blocks. Alinsug added twelve points and six receptions, while Toring notched six spikes, three blocks, and an ace.

Camilla Lamina tossed seventeen excellent to help set the table.

As for UST, only two players managed to score in double figures, with Jonna Perdido tacking seventeen points and nine receptions, while Regina Jurado logged ten markers of her own.

With 20,955 in attendance, it made for a happy weekend, as their male counterparts also pulled off a a straight sets victory earlier in the day against the same school, 25-17 26-24 25-19.

NU will have the chance to clinch the title on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, with UST hoping to force a winner-take-all next week at the same venue.