THE ATENEO Blue Eagles suffered a straight-set loss, 16-25, 20-25, 13-25, at the hands of long-time archrivals De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Women’s Volleyball Tournament. 

The Blue Eagles—now with a 1-2 win-loss record—played with grit throughout the game earlier today at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The opposing team took charge of the set’s rhythm early on in the match as they immediately utilized combination plays that bore holes on Ateneo’s floor coverage, 3-8. After the first technical timeout, the Blue Eagles showed clear adjustments in their performance with Captain Faith Nisperos leading the team with her heavy hits, 9-15. However, the Blue Eagles failed to close the gap as the Lady Spikers took the set with a powerful 4-0 run, 16-25.

DLSU’s impenetrable blockade stood in the way of the Blue Eagles’ pursuit to bounce back from the set loss. F. Nisperos remained consistent with her loaded attacks, but Lady Spikers’ Super Rookie Angel Canino kept answering back, 9-15. Towards the latter part of the second set, the Blue Eagles inched closer to the rival team and eliminated the lead down to two, 17-19. However, the troop from Taft rallied straight to set point and took the set at 20-25.

Coming into Set 3, Vanie Gandler snapped the Lady Spikers’ early 3-0 run with a sharp cross-court kill, 1-3. A series of clever drop balls from the opponent’s side continuously outsmarted the Blue Eagles. As the Lady Spikers approached match point, the Blue and White further lagged behind by 11 points, 13-23. The trio of AC Miner, Gandler and F. Nisperos tried to delay their loss but the opposing team didn’t hesitate and mercilessly closed the match with a huge lead, 13-25.

The Ateneo Blue Eagles will aim to redeem themselves from this loss as they are set to face the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws on March 8, Wednesday, at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Box scores:

Ateneo: F. Nisperos – 11, Sulit – 6, Gandler – 6, Miner – 5, Tsunashima – 3, De Guzman – 1, Doromal – 1

DLSU: Canino – 23, Dela Cruz – 13, Gagate – 10, Sharma – 6, Alba – 4, Soreno – 2, Cruz – 1, Larroza – 1, Provido – 1

Set scores:

16-25, 20-25, 13-25