THE Ateneo Lady Eagles were stunned by the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons in straight sets, 26-28, 23-25, 24-26, on Saturday, April 7 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The loss ends Ateneo’s win streak in the second round and puts the team at second place with a win-loss record of 9-4 in Season 80 of the the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Volleyball tournament. This is the first straight-set loss for the Lady Eagles this season as they had two five-set defeats to FEU and NU while their game against DLSU went to four sets.
Kat Tolentino led the Lady Eagles in scoring with 15 points while UP’s Tots Carlos racked up 22. The Lady Maroons recorded 11 total kill blocks, which played a role in the Lady Eagles spiking at only 29% attack efficiency. Ateneo averaged 1.94 aces per set coming into the game, but were kept to just one service ace for the game.
Ateneo Head Coach Anusorn “Tai” Bundit started Maddie Madayag, Bea De Leon, Deanna Wong, Jules Samonte, Jho Maraguinot, and Tolentino, while Ponggay Gaston and Ria Lo shared the role of libero.
Back to back attack errors by Madayag put UP ahead by three heading into the first technical timeout (TTO), 5-8. It took the Lady Eagles almost the entire set to finally tie the score thanks to a kill by Maraguinot, 24-24. Two attack errors by Maraguinot in the final stretch gave UP the first set, 26-28.
[1st set] Maraguinot’s wide spike surrenders the first set.
Ateneo 26 UP 28#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/ACjEIKqlTV
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) April 7, 2018
UP led early again in the second set as they possessed a two-point lead heading into the first TTO, 6-8. Errors by UP and multiple successful Ateneo attacks allowed the Blue and White to take the lead by the second TTO, 16-14. A minus tempo attack from Wong and Madayag put Ateneo just four points from taking the set, 21-16.
[2nd set] Madayag with a powerful quick!
Ateneo 21 UP 16#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/5QpKXVYOoX
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) April 7, 2018
The Lady Maroons then scored five consecutive points led by Isa Molde’s serves to tie, 21-all. An attack error by Arielle Estranero put the Lady Eagles two points from winning the set, 23-21. The Lady Maroons once again stunned the Ateneo crowd with a 4-0 run that saw Carlos take set point after Maraguinot thrice rebounded her spike off the block, 23-25.
[2nd set] After three rebounded spikes from Maraguinot, Carlos eventually took set point.
Ateneo 23 UP 25#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/ra61uBbp9U
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) April 7, 2018
With their backs against the wall, the Lady Eagles mustered a two-point lead at the first TTO, 8-6. A block by Tolentino on Molde put the Blue and White ahead by three at the second TTO, 16-13. An attack error by Estranero put Ateneo in a similar position as the second set, 21-15. UP once again stormed back with a 7-2 run which ended with an attack error by Carlos that put Ateneo at set point, 24-22. However, after the hiccup, the Lady Maroons put together four straight points to claim the victory with Carlos spiking the ball off De Leon’s late block to take match point, 24-26.
[3rd set] Carlos ends the match with a kill off the block.
Ateneo 24 UP 26#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/XRl92mpZjB
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) April 7, 2018
The next game for the Lady Eagles will be against the De La Salle University Lady Archers on Sunday, April 15, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Set Scores
Ateneo-UP: 26-28, 23-25, 24-26
Box Scores
Ateneo: Tolentino– 15, Madayag – 8, Maraguinot – 7, Samonte – 4, de Leon –4, Wong – 1
UP: Carlos – 22, Molde – 13, Layug – 6, Ramos – 6, Estranero – 6, Cailing – 3, Lim – 1
