DESPITE CONCEDING the second set, The Ateneo Lady Eagles earned the win against the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors with a defensively strong performance in four sets, 25-14, 18-25, 25-13, 25-18, on Wednesday, March 21 at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Now with three consecutive victories in the second round, the Lady Eagles possess a win-loss record of 7-3 in Season 80 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Volleyball tournament.
Kat Tolentino was Ateneo’s leading scorer with 16 spikes, five blocks, and one service ace for a total of 22 points. Deanna Wong tallied a career-best 50 excellent sets to eclipse her previous record of 45, which she garnered against National University in their last match of the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference. Jho Maraguinot and Ria Lo were key in Ateneo’s floor defense as they recorded 18 and 16 excellent digs respectively.
Ateneo Head Coach Anusorn “Tai” Bundit started Maddie Madayag, Bea De Leon, Wong, Jules Samonte, Maraguinot, and Tolentino, while Ponggay Gaston and Lo shared the role of libero.
The major event of the first set was Ateneo’s 11-1 scoring run, which was started by a strong spike by Maraguinot off an excellent receive by Gaston to tie the set at 10-10. The onslaught concluded with a kill by Tolentino for the Blue and White to lead 20-11. The Lady Eagles eventually took the set off a net touch violation by the Lady Warriors, 25-14.
[1st set] A net touch violation by the Lady Warriors gives Ateneo the first set.
Ateneo 25 UE 14#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/VtQXtPfxYg
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) March 21, 2018
Miscommunication hindered Lady Eagles in the second set as they conceded six service aces, most of which came from a lack of coordination among receivers. A late 4-0 scoring run by UE put them just four points away from taking the set, 16-21. A kill by UE’s Shaya Adorador won them the set, 18-25, and tied the game at one set each.
[2nd set] Adorador’s attack ties the game at one set each.
Ateneo 18 UE 25#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/KT5rL4DZkt
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) March 21, 2018
The Lady Eagles began the third set trailing, but were able to recover to lead by five heading into the second technical timeout (TTO) thanks to Madayag’s block, 16-11. Ateneo was then able to keep UE to scoring just two more points the rest of the way as they took the set through a service ace by Madayag, 25-13.
[3rd set] Service ace from the captain! Lady Eagles lead 2-1.
Ateneo 25 UE 13#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/DElsTHcSnn
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) March 21, 2018
Ateneo was ahead by three at the first TTO of the fourth set after a back row bomb from Maraguinot, 8-5. The Blue and White were able to extend the lead to five off a net touch violation by UE heading into the second TTO, 16-11. Wong eventually took match point with a block on Mary Ann Mendrez, 25-18.
[4th set] Wong’s block gives Ateneo the four set win over UE!
Ateneo 25 UE 18#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/Fx2ndY4onw
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) March 21, 2018
“We weren’t really playing how we normally play,” commented Tolentino when asked about their performance in the second set loss. Most of UE’s serves were aimed in the space between Tolentino and Gaston.
“We weren’t talking much on the court which led to reception errors.” – Captain Maddie Madayag in her team’s performance in the second set. pic.twitter.com/CQyKLuBZSR
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) March 21, 2018
The next game for the Lady Eagles will be against the Adamson University Lady Falcons on Sunday, March 25 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Set Scores
Ateneo-UE: 25-14, 18-25, 25-13, 25-18
Box Scores
Ateneo: Tolentino – 22, Maraguinot – 16, Madayag – 13, Samonte – 11, De Leon – 5, Wong – 4
UE: Adorador – 21, Mendrez – 10, Abil – 7, Rodriguez – 5, Baliton – 4, Bendong – 1, Catindig – 1, Arado – 1
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