NU at cusp of first round sweep

c/o UAAP Media Team

 

Games Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum

9 a.m. - Ateneo vs UE (Men)
11 a.m. - FEU vs DLSU (Men)
1 p.m. - Ateneo vs UE (Women)
3 p.m. - FEU vs DLSU (Women)

National University moved on the brink of sweeping the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament first round after a 25-21, 25-23, 25-18 victory over Adamson University on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Lady Bulldogs now hold a 6-0 record with their Season 86 finals nemesis the last team standing on their way from a first round sweep.

NU and University of Santo Tomas will collide on Sunday, 5 p.m., at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“I think mag-iimprove pa naman yung performance ng NU going to the second round and sa Sunday [na last game ng first round]. Yung about sa Adamson naman syempre masaya ako para sa kanila kasi syempre may mga talagang blue chips na dumadating na players sa Adamson kasi number one, pinaka mahirap talaga is mag-recruit talaga. Hopefully, yung mga young players nila talagang mag-improve pa lalo,” said Lady Bulldogs head coach Sherwin Meneses, after playing his alma mater for the first time.

("I think NU's performance will still improve as we head into the second round and in Sunday's final game of the first round. Regarding Adamson, of course, I'm happy for them because they have some real blue-chip players coming in. Recruitment is truly the hardest part, after all. Hopefully, their young players will continue to improve.")

A former setter from Adamson, Meneses handled the Lady Falcons from 2012 to 2016.

Adamson was close to taking the second set after erecting a 20-16 lead but NU flexed its championship composure as Alyssa Solomon and Vange Alinsug rallied to turn the tides and make it 25-23 for the Lady Bulldogs.

Then in the third frame, the defending champions pulled away late with two-time MVP Bella Belen, Alinsug, and Solomon combining for a 7-1 finishing kick for the win in 86 minutes.

“Magandang laban siya sa amin kasi alam din kasi namin na ang Adamson, hindi rin sila magpapatalo lang nang wala lang. So kami, dapat laban lang kami hanggang matapos lahat ng sets,” said Alinsug, who had 12 points and four excellent receptions.

("It was a good match for us because we knew that Adamson wouldn't go down without a fight. So for us, we just had to keep pushing until the end of every set.")

Solomon uncorked a game-best 22 points on just 15 spikes, four blocks, and three aces, while Belen had nine points and 12 digs.

Meanwhile, the Lady Falcons’ slide continued, dropping their third straight game for a 2-4 record at joint-fifth with University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.

Adamson and UP, both looking to end the round with a win, break their tie on Sunday as well at 1 p.m.

Shaina Nitura, the second-leading scorer prior to this playdate, was held to a season-low 13 points on a lowly 9-of-49 spiking clip. She also managed to get 15 receptions and eight digs.

Nigeria's Frances Mordi also had 13 points in the loss.