CAPPING OFF their first round campaign, the Ateneo Lady Eagles took down the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs in four sets, 23-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-17, in Season 81 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Volleyball Tournament on Saturday, March 16, at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan. This marked the sixth-straight win for the Blue and White who now stands with a 6-1 win-loss record.

Towering veterans Maddie Madayag and Bea de Leon led the team through it all, scoring 17 and 13 points, respectively. Last season’s best setter Deanna Wong contributed 29 excellent sets and two markers as well. Princess Robles of NU had a formidable game, leading all scorers with 18 points.

Head Coach Oliver Almadro fielded the familiar starting lineup composed of Deanna Wong, Kat Tolentino, Maddie Madayag, Bea de Leon, Ponggay Gaston, Jules Samonte, and Kim Gequillana at libero. Young guns Erika Raagas and Ayumi Furukawa would later come in the game as well.

The first set began in Ateneo’s favor as Madayag started the offense with two spikes, 5-3. Thanks to an impressive defensive performance from De Leon, Ateneo kept the slight advantage heading into the second technical timeout (TTO), 16-13. NU, however, would stage a comeback via a 7-2 run sparked by Lady Bulldog Princess Robles, 20-19. Despite a close affair, NU edged Ateneo to the first set after Lady Bulldog Audrey Paran’s cross court kill, 23-25.

In the second set, the Katipunan-based squad changed gears and jacked up a massive 6-0 early run through a balanced effort, 7-2. After the first TTO, the Lady Eagles continued to put the pressure, forcing NU errors and misplays, 20-10. Lady Bulldog middle blocker Ivy Lacsina would get a couple, but it was too little too late as Ateneo would take the set following a deceptive dump by Wong, 25-17.

Paran started the NU offensive in the third set with back-to-back spikes, giving her team the early lead, 0-3. The Lady Bulldogs would maintain the lead past the first TTO, but Gaston would fuel a 7-2 lead that gave Ateneo the advantage coming into the second TTO, 16-13. From there, it became a back and forth between the two teams, with NU slowly threatening to tie the game. Madayag’s running spike, however, secured another close set for the Lady Eagles, 25-23.

The fourth set saw a fitting end to the match as Ateneo solidified their plays from the get-go. A Madayag-led 10-2 run placed them ahead of the Lady Bulldogs, 11-6. Before the second TTO, however, the Sampaloc-based squad would mount a small comeback, cutting the Lady Eagles’ lead to just one, 16-14. In the end, NU’s comeback was spoiled as De Leon exploded for three spikes and a kill block that gave Ateneo the momentum to take the match after another finishing play from Wong, 25-17.

In the post game press conference, Head Coach Almadro shared his thoughts on the team’s performance that past round. “We started the tournament slow so we just had to work every practice [and play] every match as if it was the last match of our lives,” he explained. “Ganun din yung mga seniors ko (That’s also how the seniors are) they’re really really doing more every practice, doing more every game [and] that’s what Atenean values are all about—giving magis in everything we do.”

The second round schedule is yet to be decided as it will be based off the final standings for the first round.

Set Score:

Ateneo-NU: 23-25, 25-17, 25-23