NUNS emerge triumphant in potential Final Four preview

UAAP Season 87 High School Girls' Vollleyball Standings

*NUNS 9-1

*UST 8-2

*AdU 7-3

*FEU-D 7-3

DLSZ 3-7

UPIS 2-9

Ateneo 0-11

Boys' Games on Saturday at the Paco Arena

9 a.m. - UE vs DLSZ

11 a.m. - NUNS vs FEU-D

1 p.m. - UPIS vs UST

3 p.m. - Ateneo vs ADU

National University Nazareth School fashioned out a straight-set win against the Far Eastern University-Diliman, 25-21, 25-17, 25-20 in a battle of Final Four-bound teams in the UAAP Season 87 High School Girls’ Volleyball Tournament on Wednesday at the Paco Arena in Manila.

The NUNS zoomed to the top spot with a 9-1, a game ahead of University of Santo Tomas at 8-2 in that race to the twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals.

The Junior Tigresses secured their eighth win with a sweep over University of the Philippines Integrated School, 25-13, 25-13, 25-22.

The back-to-back title-seeking Baby Falcons made quick work of Ateneo, 25-11, 25-13, 25-10, for its seventh victory of the season, tying the Baby Tamaraws in third spot.

The Lady Bullpups took advantage of the Baby Tamaraws' lapses in the second set to put up the 2-0 cushion.

NUNS, with a two-set advantage, remained composed even after FEU-D came to within one, 18-19, in the third after a solid block by Cath Umal.

Last season's runners-up scored three unanswered to get to match point before Diza Berayo ended the hour-long match with a crosscourt kill.

“Magandang bagay kasi ngayon yung second round nagpepeak na yung team unti-unti. But hindi kami pwedeng maging complacent pa rin. Kailangan pa namin trabawin hanggang matapos, hanggang sa final four.” said Lady Bullpups' head coach Ray Dimaculangan.

Harlyn Serneche led the NUNS with 16 points on 15 attacks and an ace, while Berayo also stepped up with 10 points, all from attacks.

Raine Alonzo paced FEU-D with 13 points on 12 attacks and an ace, as Franz Premaylon contributed seven attack points.

The Baby Tamaraws slipped into 7-3 and a share of third to fourth places with reigning champions Adamson Baby Falcons.

Despite controlling the first two sets, the Junior Tigresses received stern resistance from the Junior Fighting Maroons in the third.

UPIS carved a 6-0 run courtesy of consecutive service aces by Khloe Long and a solid block by Janella Guarino to put the set at 16-12.

UST then went back to basics and finished with a 13-6 run, capping it off with a Jairah Silvestre drop shot from the middle.

“Well, okay lang naman. In today's game, syempre mas marami yung exposure for our second unit. So yun naman din yung plano ng team namin na to give a chance and exposure for our second unit. So, yun nga, magkaroon sila ng more confidence sa mga galaw at sarili nila,” said UST assistant coach Yani Fernandez.

Jheliane Auxtero led UST's balanced offense with eight points on seven attacks, and an ace, while team captain Jai Adrao chipped in seven attacks.

On the other hand, Janella Guarino topped the Junior Fighting Maroons with 10 points, seven in attacks and three aces.

“Well, so far, syempre, it's a good game. At least in the end, marami pa rin lapses na kailangan trabahuhin so that pagpasok ng Final Four, ma-minimize namin, especially yung pasa namin, yung services, yung attacks.

"So most of them, kailangan trabahuhin talaga. Pero, it's a great experience sa mga bata din so that na yung mga ganitong sitwasyon, experience, madadala nila all throughout pagpasok ng Final Four,” said Adamson head coach JP Yude.

Ellaine Gonzalvo soared for the Baby Falcons with 12 points on three attacks, eight service aces, and a block. Sam Cantada chipped in eight points, all from attacks, and Abi Segui with five.

Rian Ardidon powered the still-winless Blue Eagles with six points on five attacks and an ace.