THE ATENEO Blue Eagles defeated National University (NU) in three sets after losing against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in straight sets on Saturday, October 1, 2016 at the SM Sands in Pasay City.

The results puts the Blue Eagles at a 1-1 record in the elimination round standings of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Beach Volleyball tournament.

Blue Eagles Ish Polvorosa and Team Captain Marck Espejo were outmatched by UST, 17-21, 15-21, in their season opener. The Blue Eagles, who were more familiar with an indoor setting with six players, struggled at times in the match, leaving open spaces that Guzman and Arbasto took advantage of.

After the defeat in the first match, Espejo and Polvorosa had adjustments to make in terms of their partnership and the beach volleyball setting. “Malaking adjustment sa amin to (It [the beach volleyball setting] is a big adjustment for us),” Espejo said.

In the second match against NU, however, the blue beach spikers similarly started slow, losing the first set, 11-21. Nevertheless, the Blue Eagles bounced back in the second set, as Polvorosa and Espejo prevented the Bulldogs from pulling away throughout the set. “Sa second set sinunod namin yung pattern ni Coach (We followed Coach [Oliver’s] pattern in the second set).”

In a tight second set finish, the Katipunan-based side crawled back from a 17-20 deficit, earning three match points in the process, to tie the match at 1-all, gaining momentum going into the deciding set of the match.

The third set had a similar storyline. The Blue Eagles facing a 11-13 deficit, saved two match points in the late moments of the match. Ultimately, the persistence of Espejo and Polvorosa bore fruit as they took the set and match, 16-14.

Their next game will be on Sunday, October 2, 2016,9AM at the SM Sands in Pasay City.