NU with back-to-back victories to open beach volleyball title defense

c/o UAAP

National University launched its campaign for a back-to-back collegiate women's beach volleyball title with two hard-fought victories in the UAAP Season 88 tournament, Friday at Sands SM By The Bay.

Reigning MVP Honey Grace Cordero and Kat Epa opened the season by narrowly defeating Far Eastern University's Melody Pons and Lovely Lopez, 21-19, 21-17.

Later, Cordero teamed up with third player Kizil Quijote and went through a tense battle before edging University of the Philippines’ Jum Gayo and Kryssia Ornos, 24-22, 21-19, to finish the day with a 2-0 record.

University of Santo Tomas’ Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella also impressed on the opening day, posting two straight victories.

Pagara and Progella dominated Adamson University's Shai Nitura and Fhei Sagaysay, 21-8, 21-12, before overwhelming Ateneo's Gry Matibag and Liz Lomocso, 21-6, 21-8, signaling a strong start to their redemption season.

The Tiger Sands, the most successful women’s beach volleyball program with nine titles, are motivated to bounce back after last year’s heartbreaking defeat to the Lady Bulldogs.

Meanwhile, Gayo and Ornos split their opening day matches after repelling De La Salle’s Mica Buis and Ela Raagas, 23-21, 21-19.

Matibag and Lomocso also went 1-1, defeating University of the East's Van Bangayan and Krisha Revilla, 21-16, 21-16.

In the men’s division, UST made a strong start in its quest for a seventh consecutive crown.

League MVPs Alche Gupiteo and Dom Gabito defeated FEU’s Christian Paul Salboro and Reynan Postorioso, 21-11, 21-18, and Adamson’s Iverson Tan and Willie Hitones, 21-12, 21-16.

NU’s Alex Iraya and Sky Gemarino, last season’s runners-up, outplayed UP’s Angelo Lipata and Zedrick Calimlim, 21-17, 21-14, before completing a perfect first day with a 21-12, 21-19 victory over De La Salle’s Von Marata and Andrei Espejo.

Ateneo’s Jian Salarzon and Amil Pacinio topped Tan and Hitones, 21-17, 21-14, while Marata and Espejo defeated UE’s Allen Buensalida and Julian Celestial, 21-12, 21-10.

Action resumes with the men’s division at 7 a.m. Saturday, followed by the women’s matches at 10 a.m.