NU completes first round sweep in women's volleyball

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Standings

Team W-L
NU 7-0
DLSU 5-2
UST 5-2  
FEU 4-3
UP 3-4
Ateneo 2-5
AdU 2-5
UE 0-7

Defending champion National University continued to have the number of University of Santo Tomas.

In a rematch of last year’s Finals, the Lady Bulldogs still emerged on top of the Golden Tigresses in five sets, showcasing composure and poise in front of the brightest of lights, 23-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-18, 15-9, to sweep the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament first round on Sunday.

The high-octane, two-hour, 32-minute marathon was witnessed by 12,970 fans in attendance at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Lady Bulldogs swept the Golden Tigresses in last season’s best-of-three Finals for their second title in three seasons. This also marked NU’s fourth straight victory over UST starting in their second round clash in Season 86.

The Lady Bulldogs have actually won 10 in a row dating back from last year's Final Four.

“Masaya kami kasi naexperience namin ‘yung ganitong labanan. Talagang hindi rin magpapatalo ‘yung UST, happy ako na talagang nakarecover kami down 2-1. Hopefully mapolish pa namin ‘yung lapses namin,” said NU head coach Sherwin Meneses.

("We're happy because we experienced this kind of battle. UST really wouldn't go down without a fight, so I'm glad we managed to recover after being down 2-1. Hopefully, we can still polish our lapses.)

Ahead by just two in the fifth, 7-5, they went to two-time MVP Bella Belen as she delivered three straight points followed by an error by Cassie Carballo for the 11-5 Lady Bulldogs lead.

Meneses and his coaching staff’s brilliance was also on point, earning three successful challenges in the deciding set resulting in two points and one replay.

During the fourth set, it was Season 86 Finals MVP Alyssa Solomon who picked up the slack and delivered the match to a fifth frame.

With NU up 12-11, then 6-foot-2 opposite spiker uncorked six points in their 13-7 closer to extend the match, 25-18.

“Nung una nahirapan po talaga ako kasi magandang laban po yung nangyari kanina. Tinulungan din ako ng spikers ko para bumalik din ‘yung confidence ko. Nagbigayan talaga kami ng confidence,” said Camilla Lamina, who spread the wealth with a season-high 33 excellent sets.

("At first, I really struggled because it was a tough match earlier. My spikers also helped me regain my confidence. We really boosted each other's confidence.")

Solomon delivered 24 points on 21 spikes and three blocks, while Belen made 19 points, 17 digs, and 15 receptions.

Vange Alinsug also produced 17 points while Erin Pangilinan added 12 points in the game where libero Shaira Jardio netted 25 excellent receptions and 20 digs.

UST saw its red-hot five-game winning streak doused, falling to a tie for second with De La Salle University at 5-2.

Regina Jurado led the Golden Tigresses with 16 points, 16 excellent digs, and nine receptions.

Angge Poyos, who was the league’s second-leading scorer entering the day, was held to just 13 points on 12-of-56 spiking clip.

Cassie Carballo also impressed with 27 excellent sets and a rare 10 points on seven attacks, two blocks, and an ace.