IN A finals matchup dubbed as another ‘Battle of the Birds,’ the Lady Spikers reinforced Ateneo’s dominance over the Adamson Falcons, sweeping them 2-0 on May 17 at the San Juan Arena. The victory is the Lady Spikers’ first V-League title since the league was formed in 2004.

Adamson, led by 2010 UAAP MVP Angela Benting, guest player Nerissa Bautista, and former Ateneo guest player Michelle Laborte, were poised to repeat last year’s performance, but the Lady Spikers opened the series last Sunday to take a 1-0 advantage.

After sitting out a year due to residency, former USTHS standout Alyssa Valdez scored 24 points in her first V-League stint. Ateneo guest player Lithawat ‘Nok’ Kesinee also scored 24 points for the Lady Spikers, who closed out the championship in five sets after failing to close out the fourth set due to crucial errors.

Adamson had the momentum swinging their way after splitting the sets 2-2, but the Lady Spikers played solid defense en route to a 15-11 fifth set victory.

Setter and team captain Jem Ferrer was named Finals MVP. She tallied only three points but made 86 excellent sets throughout the game, edging her Adamson counterpart May Macatuno, who only had 57.

The victory marked former guest player Charo Soriano’s first V-League coaching stint. She took over from Clint Malazo, who coached the team in last summer’s V-League tourney.

A handful of Lady Spikers bagged awards in the V-League’s 2011 first conference: libero Denn Lazaro was named Best Receiver, Fille Cainglet was the league’s Most Improved Player, Kesinee was named Most Valuable Player and Ferrer was named Finals MVP.

Earlier, the University of St. La Salle Lady Stingers bagged third place after defeating the NU Lady Bulldogs in three sets. They became the first provincial team to place in the V-League.

SETS: 24-26, 25-18, 25-22, 19-25, 15-11