THE STAGE was set in Game 3 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Women’s Volleyball Finals between the Ateneo Women’s Volleyball Team (AWVT) and the University of Santo Tomas (UST). With the Lady Eagles just one point away from reclaiming the title, all eyes were on their outside hitter Jules Samonte—who secured the championship point off the hands of two UST blockers. As the championship was secured with Samonte at the center of celebrations on the court, little did fans know that they had seen the last of Samonte in an Ateneo jersey. 

After three seasons donning the Blue and White, Samonte departs with a legacy made intact by her achievements and contributions to the AWVT. She has become one of the greatest assets of the Lady Eagles with her role as a reliable scorer, emerging from a surprising performance in her rookie year to eventually become Team Captain.

Rise of the rookie

Before turning into one of the main scorers for Ateneo, Samonte went through the process of improving her skills and experience over time. She started playing volleyball with her friends for fun when she was 11 years old. After participating in a small barangay tournament, she realized that she enjoyed the sport so much that she decided to start seriously pursuing it.

Her competitive career bloomed when she was recruited by the De La Salle Santiago Zobel School (DLSZ) for the UAAP Juniors’ Volleyball division. The young hopeful won the title in her first year in the league and was then recruited for the Palarong Pambansa team, where she collected back-to-back championships. In her senior year at DLSZ, she was awarded as both the best scorer and best blocker in the UAAP Juniors’ Division.

After her stellar run in high school, Samonte decided to take her talents to Ateneo for college. She managed to get her big break after filling in well for Jhoana Maraguinot, made evident by her career-high 10 points over their rivals De La Salle University (DLSU) towards the end of the preliminary rounds in UAAP Season 79. 

As Samonte impressed with a string of strong performances highlighted by her Player of the Game award against DLSU, the rookie began to serve as a consistent starter for the team. “My only plan was to play and do what I can. I didn’t feel any pressure because I was a rookie and no one [was] really expecting anything from me,” Samonte said. 

She was awarded Season 79 Rookie of the Year after reaching the finals, which Ateneo ultimately lost against a star-studded DLSU line-up. “There were times when I wanted to quit, but my teammates and coach always said that it would be worth it in the end… We didn’t win the championship that year, but they were really pushing me to become better,” Samonte said.

Samonte’s support and encouragement from the Ateneo community proved effective. The rookie became a much more consistent player in her second year, serving as a threat on offense and boosting the confidence of her teammates in the process. She was even chosen to represent the rebuilding Ateneo team in UAAP Beach Volleyball Seasons 80 and 81, alongside Bea De Leon and Ponggay Gaston. While Ateneo fell short of the Final Four in both seasons, Samonte’s time on the team was crucial to the program’s development as teammates Roma Doromal and Ponggay Gaston bagged the bronze in Season 82. 

Journey to the championship

Filling the shoes of a true veteran, Samonte focused on keeping her composure amid new challenges in her third year. Stepping up for the team was more important than ever as they were adjusting to the system brought by their new coach, Oliver Almadro.

“[Coach Oliver] told us that everyone in the team had a role, even those who [weren’t] part of the UAAP line-up. For me, [my role] was to help the seniors, Ate Bea, Ate Maddie, and Manang Kim. I also had to be a role model for the younger ones,” Samonte shared.

As a veteran, her younger teammates looked up to her as she always prioritized volleyball training alongside her academics. She was seen as someone who would have composure during games, focusing on the team’s objectives rather than the background noise.

Being the team’s main outside hitter, Samonte contributed to the team’s success as they acquired the top spot with an 11-1 team standing in the elimination round that season. However, they were challenged with a disappointing loss in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 81 Finals when UST swept them via 23-point and 11-point performances from Season MVP Sisi Rondina and Rookie of the Year EJ Laure, respectively.

With the championship on the line, the Lady Eagles gave their all to tie the series in a four-set thriller in Game 2. Samonte stepped up for her team with her attack points and service aces complementing the excellent sets of Deanna Wong and the defense by Maddie Madayag, De Leon, and Ponggay Gaston.

In the third and final game of Season 81, Samonte and the rest of the Katipunan-based squad built on their momentum from Game 2 and bested UST for the UAAP crown. The Lady Eagles’ blocking spree and dominant performance gave them a chance for a comfortable set sweep, with Samonte winning the unforgettable championship point through an off-the-block kill, 25-22.

Post-UAAP plans

After an impressive finals performance, Samonte’s decision to end her UAAP career early came as a surprise for many because she was expected to lead her team as captain in Season 83. With the COVID-19 pandemic canceling Seasons 82 and 83, Samonte decided to bid farewell to the Ateneo Lady Eagles due to the uncertainty surrounding the league’s resumption.

After the lost eligible years in the UAAP as a result of the health crisis, Samonte believes that it would be best to move on to the next level of her volleyball career. Aiming to maximize her prime playing years by going professional, the 22-year old has recently signed for the Perlas Spikers of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).

Currently in a training bubble in Cagayan Valley, Samonte is preparing to suit up for her first stint with Perlas in the upcoming beach volleyball season. All her attention right now is on the PVL where she plans to play for at least the next five years.

Samonte is confident that her stay in Ateneo, although cut short, will be beneficial to her journey now going into the professional scene. “I’m grateful for Ateneo because this is where I learned the importance of doing more of what you can do, always being open to growth, and being able to share that growth with others.” 

From emerging as a star rookie to becoming a trusted veteran in Ateneo, Samonte has proved time and time again how reliable she is on the volleyball court for her teammates and coaches. Moving on from the UAAP with an accomplished career is a legacy left by Samonte that is sure to have made a lasting impact for the Lady Eagles.