THE ATENEO Blue Eagles began their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Beach Volleyball campaign with a straight set win against the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors last Thursday, October 5, at SM Sands by the bay.

Four-time UAAP Indoor Volleyball Most Valuable Player Marck Espejo was joined by captain Karl Baysa and veteran John Rivera who played the role of the reserve player.

The first set had the Blue Eagles go on multiple unanswered runs. A power spike by Espejo to the end-line against one blocker had his team lead by five, 9-4. Espejo’s soft spike to an open spot further widened the deficit, 16-7. A denial by Baysa brought Ateneo closer to taking the first set, 19-10. Baysa took set point with an attack to an open corner, 21-10.

The story was similar in the second set. A quick return by Baysa on the over-receive gave the Blue Eagles an early four-point lead, 8-4. Further into the set, Espejo got the cross court kill after pulling off a difficult diving receive, 15-9. The Ateneo tandem then went on a 6-3 run to end the set and the match, 21-12.

“The absence of the sun is definitely a big advantage for us,” said captain Karl Baysa on the new schedule of beach volleyball, which has been altered to avoid having players play under the extreme heat.

“We just really wanted to apply what we practiced in training and focus on the basic patterns we have,” Baysa said on his team’s execution during the game.

The next games for the Blue Eagles will be on Friday, October 6, against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws and the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers.

Set Scores

Ateneo vs UE: 21-10, 21-14