SHE IS one of the team’s newest members, but she has been playing sensational, seasoned volleyball in only her first year playing the sport in the UAAP.

Former UST High School standout Alyssa Valdez led all scorers with a career-high 30 points as the Lady Spikers routed the National University Bulldogs, 3-1.

Fresh off a whipping courtesy of the UST Lady Tigers, the Lady Spikers looked to compensate for sloppy appearances, and they did. They held the Lady Bulldogs to only a timid seven points in the first set, while finishing the set with 25 points.

NU made offensive adjustments, with team captain Kai Nepomuceno, Myla Pablo and Carmina Aganon providing some sparks on offense. Ateneo’s defense, however, held ground, only allowing the Bulldog offense to come no closer than a hairline, 20-19. The Lady Spikers would sweep the set at 25-20.

The NU Lady Bulldogs, though, were a restive bunch, as they clawed back in the third set and led early. Nepomuceno found the defense’s blind spots while Galang provided a defensive spine which gave them a lead that they protected until the end of the set, and some breathing room in the series as well. The third set ended at 25-17.

After being benched for sloppy defensive play, Valdez regained her composure in the fourth and never looked back, spiking her way back into relevance. Gretchen Ho and Aillysse Nacachi shifted focus back to the red-hot Nepomuceno, whose offensive sets emerged predictable. An error by the Bulldogs punctuated the set at 25-19.

Valdez led all scorers with 30 points, with seniors Fille Cainglet and Angeline Gervacio following suit, scoring 13 and 10 points apiece. Nepomuceno scored 19, the only Lady Bulldog to have scored in double digits.

SET SCORES

25-7, 25-20, 25-17, 25-19