Playoffs match against University of the Philippines (UP)

The Ateneo Blue Eagles notched back-to-back wins in the playoffs round of the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) as they ruled over the UP Fighting Maroons in four sets, 25-22, 25-16, 14-25, 25-22. The match was held on  November 5 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in the City of Manila.

The Blue Eagles’ record now stands at 2-1 after this victory, as they secure a quarterfinals bout against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers.

Ateneo got off to a slow start in the opening set as their usual top scorers, Faith Nisperos and AC Miner, were constantly denied by UP’s defense at the net, 4-8. Despite the poor offense at the beginning, the Blue and White was able to immediately adapt to the opponents’ solid defense to quickly eliminate the Lady Maroons’ lead, 11-11. With both teams matching each other’s aggressiveness in offense, the set arrived at another deadlock, 22-22. However, a powerful 4-0 run by the Blue Eagles—that included two consecutive service aces by Pia Ildefonso—allowed them to take the first set, 25-22.

A key aspect of the league is its All to Play rule—which requires teams to utilize all players—UP and Ateneo deployed their second stringers for the following set. Setter Makana Kowalski showcased her impressive setting ability and her near-perfect connection with her spikers Ysa Nisperos and Yvnna Sulit, which propelled Ateneo to a 10-point lead, 20-10. Although UP was able to close the gap, Miner responded with a clean quick attack in the middle to finally claim the set at 25-16. 

The Lady Maroons shrugged off their previous set loss and overpowered the Blue Eagles’ defense early on in the third set, 4-12. Ateneo’s second stringers Gena Hora, Lyann De Guzman, and the younger Nisperos led Ateneo’s offense however, their weakened floor defense allowed UP to maintain a comfortable lead, 8-16. Fighting Maroon Alyssa Bertolano’s dominance in Set 3 and the absence of Ateneo’s solid blocking at the net was a combination that let UP secure the third set with a wide lead, 25-14.

Trading points off powerful kills, neither team could get a comfortable lead at the start of the fourth set, 8-8. Ateneo maximized their offensive lineup with Vanie Gandler and Faith Nisperos running the attacking wings and Sulit and Miner solidifying the blue blockade. Ateneo’s endurance eventually caused UP to falter in their defense, ultimately leading to a lifting violation that put Ateneo ahead, 19-16. Refusing to give the Fighting Maroons a chance for a comeback, Ateneo maintained the lead and increased their aggressive offense even more. Succumbing to the pressure, UP then fell to a service error at 25-22.

Set Score: 

Ateneo-UP:  25-22, 25-16, 14-25, 25-22

Box Scores:

Ateneo: Gandler – 13, De Guzman – 10, F. Nisperos – 9, Y. Nisperos – 8, Miner – 7, Sulit – 6, Hora – 6, Kowalski – 4, Ildefonso – 4, Tsunashima – 2, Fujimoto – 1

UP: Bustrillo – 15, Ytang – 8, Arce – 8, Encarnacion – 8, Bertolano – 7, Cabasac – 6, Cal – 5, Vergeire – 5, Celis – 4, Sotomil – 3, Eslapor – 3

Quarterfinals match against De La Salle University (DLSU)

The Ateneo Blue Eagles crumble to the DLSU Lady Spikers in the quarterfinals of the SSL in three sets, 17-25, 23-25, 25-10, held earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. 

This defeat signals the end of Ateneo’s campaign in the SSL as they fail to advance to the semi-finals. 

Despite first setter Takako Fujimoto twisting her ankle early in the game, Makana Kowalski rose to the challenge and successfully activated Ateneo’s top-scorers Vanie Gandler and Faith Nisperos. The Blue Eagles welcomed Set 1 with great energy and unforgiving offensive play against the Lady Spikers, earning a three-point lead at 10-7. However, the Lady Spikers found their footing and upped their left wing offense, which Ateneo failed to take control of—costing them the set at 17-25. 

Utilizing their second stringers, the Blue Eagles still failed to secure a proper lead as the unstoppable rookie Angel Canino from DLSU continued to power through Ateneo’s defense with her explosive attacks. Ateneo’s own rookies, Gena Hora and Ysa Nisperos, also showcased their promising spiking abilities in the first half of the set but struggled to follow through as Lady Spiker Aimee Provido delivered well from the blocking end of DLSU, 11-12. 

Vanie Gandler’s return to the court temporarily stopped the bleeding for Ateneo, bringing them to a 19-17 lead. However, the Blue Eagles failed to sustain their momentum as DLSU setter Marionne Alba orchestrated her spikers to unleash unrelentless kills, 23-25 in favor of the Lady Spikers. 

Aiming to bounce back in the third set, veteran players from the Blue and White returned to the court to match the Lady Spikers’ impressive defense and explosive attacks. Thus, although the set started off with successive back-to-back blocks by DLSU, veterans Faith Nisperos and Roma Doromal responded accordingly to secure early points for the Blue Eagles, 3-5.

However, DLSU inched closer to victory as Lady Spikers Canino and Fifi Sharma towered over the Blue Eagles as an unwavering blockade. Despite Vanie Gandler’s efforts to save the Blue Eagles, DLSU was able to silence Ateneo’s attackers, bringing them to a 22-10 standing. Eventually, a double touch error by Kowalski put DLSU at match-point and star rookie Canino took advantage of Ateneo’s crumbling defense, finishing the match at 10-25.

Set Scores:

Ateneo-DLSU:  17-25, 23-25, 10-25 

Box Scores: 

Ateneo: F. Nisperos –  8, Miner – 8, Gandler – 7, De Guzman – 6, Hora – 3, Kowalski – 2, Sulit – 2, Tsunashima – 2, Y. Nisperos – 2, Licauco – 1, Ildefonso – 1

DLSU: Canino – 19, Gagete – 12, Cruz – 9, Malaluan – 6, Marionne – 6, Provido – 4, Ordiales – 3, Coronel – 3, Sharma – 2, Jazareno – 1, Levina -1