THE Ateneo Blue Eagles drop their second straight match, 2-3, against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.

Ateneo now sits at a 1-3 win-loss record after today’s five-set contest held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

The Blue and White opened the first set with costly errors, which the Lady Tamaraws maximized to dish out excellent offensive plays. FEU’s Alyzza Devosora and Jean Asis also strengthened their defensive walls against the Blue Eagles, 16-8. Unfortunately, AC Miner and Lyann de Guzman’s efforts were not enough to charge the Katipunan-based squad as FEU’s Chenie Tagaod snatched the first set with a powerful kill, 12-25.

[1st Set]

FEU takes the first set with a heavy kill.

Ateneo 12 FEU 25#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/2GulQ7kh94

— Marit Samson (@Marit_TheGUIDON) March 8, 2023

The second set opened differently as the Blue Eagles mounted a seven-point lead with the Lady Tamaraws giving away free points off their errors, 9-2. De Guzman and Miner’s efficient blocks and kills further pushed the Blue and White to a double-digit lead, 17-7. However, FEU managed to make a 4-0 run towards the latter part of the second set with Tagaod’s clean kills. Vanie Gandler quickly responded with her efficient attacks, and Taks Fujimoto eventually closed the second set with a service ace, 25-15.

[2nd Set]

Gandler with a kill!

Ateneo 22 FEU 14#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/Vg5SU1k79X

— Marit Samson (@Marit_TheGUIDON) March 8, 2023

Building on their momentum from the previous set, Team Captain Faith Nisperos powered through the Lady Tamaraws’ defensive walls, earning them a seven-point lead, 13-6. Tagaod, on the other hand, continued to rally FEU’s troops with her explosive offensive plays, 15-7. However, rookie Yvana Sulit made her presence felt as she contributed attacks from the middle to extend their lead to nine, 18-9. The Blue and White continued to deliver despite FEU’s efficient offense, with Gandler securing them the third set, 25-19.

[3rd Set]

Vanie Gandler wins the third set for the Blue and White.

Ateneo 25 FEU 19#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/bob7RWRGxz

— Marit Samson (@Marit_TheGUIDON) March 8, 2023

Starting the fourth set anew, the Lady Tamaraws regained their confidence as the Blue and White stacked up errors off their offensive strategies. Despite Miner’s efforts at the top of the net, FEU’s Devosora delivered with her impressive kills to place them with a five-point lead, 11-6. The Blue Eagles lacked aggressiveness as the Lady Tamaraws pulled away with their well-crafted variations on the offensive department to claim the fourth set, 25-15.

[4th Set]

FEU’s attack lands right on Ateneo’s back row.

Ateneo 10 FEU 19#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/w9jVvQpLOe

— Marit Samson (@Marit_TheGUIDON) March 8, 2023

Coming into the fifth set, the Lady Tamaraws set up an early 4-1 lead over the Blue Eagles. De Guzman and Nisperos slowly snatched the lead with their impressive kills, 7-5. Responding to Ateneo’s counterattacks, FEU had their own share of offensive plays and kept their composure to overtake the lead 10-7. On the latter part of the extended set, both squads had a back-and-forth battle with FEU’s Devosora and Nisperos, 15-15. Ultimately, the Lady Tamaraws’ single-block over Miner secured the match, 16-18.

[5th Set]

FEU finishes the match with a block rejecting Miner’s attack.

Ateneo 16 FEU 18#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/BZkLa0b3ZB

— Marit Samson (@Marit_TheGUIDON) March 8, 2023

The Blue Eagles look to end their mini-drought as they battle the Adamson University Lady Falcons on Sunday, March 12, at 2 PM at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Box Scores: 

Ateneo: Nisperos – 21, Miner – 17, De Guzman – 16, Gandler – 13, Sulit – 4, Fujimoto – 3, Narit – 3

FEU: Fernandez – 18, Devosora – 13, Panangin – 11, Petallo – 9, Tagaod – 8, Asis – 7, Ubaldo – 3, Monares – 2

Set Scores:

12-25, 25-15, 25-19, 15-25, 16-18