THE ATENEO Lady Eagles were handed their second loss this season after the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs emerged victorious in straight sets, 17-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, and 15-13 on Wednesday, March 22 at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
Today’s loss to the Lady Bulldogs sees the Lady Eagles move to a 8-2 win-loss record in Season 79 of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Volleyball tournament.
Neither side refused to give ground in the first set, as both sides traded point-after-point before NU eventually entered the first technical timeout leading by one (8-7). Back-to-back service aces from Jhoana Maraguinot then seemed to boost the team’s confidence as the team eventually entered the second technical timeout leading NU by four (16-12). Eventually, another service ace from Maraguinot would claim the first set for Ateneo at 25-17.
The second set started in similar fashion to that of the first, as both sides once again found themselves closely locking horns. NU would then find themselves entering the first technical timeout once again leading by one (8-7). However, the Lady Bulldogs would then continue their strong run of play and entered the second technical timeout leading Ateneo by six (16-10). The Lady Eagles however, rallied on Team Captain Jia Morado’s playing to tie the set at 20-20. However, a service error from the Blue and White would soon cost them the set as they lost, 23-25.
The third set once again saw both combatants closely locking horns as a spike from Ana Gopico would send the Lady Eagles into the first technical timeout leading by one (8-7). Eventually, the Lady Eagles had enough in their tank to hold off the scoring threats of Jaja Santiago, Aiko Urdas, and Jorelle Singh to take the third set at 25-22.
Now on the brink of defeat, the Lady Bulldogs took little time to provide a retaliation, bulldozing the Lady Eagles to enter the first technical timeout leading by six (8-2). Santiago, Urdas, and Singh this time proved to be too much to handle for the Blue and White, as the Lady Bulldogs eventually claimed the fourth set, 25-21, and forced a fifth and deciding set.
Two service aces then opened the fifth set in strong fashion for the Lady Bulldogs, as they quickly raced to a 2-0 lead. However, two quick points from Morente would soon see the Lady Eagles level with NU before both teams eventually found themselves bumper-to-bumper once more. However, NU Team Captain Jaja Santiago then rallied her team with a series of fine saves and spikes to see the Lady Bulldogs claim the fifth set at 15-13.
The Lady Eagles will square off against the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons on Sunday, March 26, 2PM at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Cubao City.
Box Scores:
Ateneo: Maraguinot- 18, Tolentino- 17, de Leon- 13, Morente- 12, Gopico- 6, Morado- 3, Samonte- 2, Madayag- 1, Gequillana- 1
NU: Santiago- 25, Urdas- 12, Singh- 11, Sato- 8, Nabor- 6, Paran- 3
Lady Bulldogs emerged victorious in straight sets, 17-25, 25-23, 22-25,25-21, and 15-13
https://storify.com/TheGUIDONSports/uaap-season-79-women-s-volleyball-ateneo-vs-nu-58d258d9af07d3393ef274f3
