THE ATENEO Men’s and Women’s Beach Volleyball Teams continued their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Beach Volleyball Tournament campaigns last November 27 in SM Sands by the Bay, Pasay City. The Blue Eagles ended the fifth day of play without any wins for the Blue and White. 

The Women’s Team bowed down in their last match of the season against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws, and the Men’s Team dropped their final playoffs game against the same university. The Men’s Team was also swept by the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Tiger Sands in the semifinals later that day. 

In the women’s division, Pia Ildefonso and Yssa Nisperos fought to the end against the Lady Tamaraws as they went down in two sets, 11-21, 8-21. Reserve player Jan Cane stepped in for the first time, substituting Nisperos in the 2nd set. The Blue Eagles concluded this season with a 1-6 win-loss standing and finished the tournament at seventh place. 

Despite the close matches, the Men’s Team’s Jian Salarzon and Amil Pacinio were unsuccessful in their match against the third-seeded FEU, who defeated them in two sets, 21-23, 19-21. This loss put the Blue and White in the fourth spot among the Final Four teams, before proceeding with their semifinals match against UST. The Tiger Sands dominated the Katipunan-based tandem with set scores of 11-21 15-21, denying Ateneo a ticket to the championships. 

Salarzon and Pacinio look to bag the bronze in their rematch against the Tamaraws, who also lost their semifinals game against the National University Bulldogs. This face-off will be held on Tuesday, November 29 at 9:00 AM in SM Sands by the Bay, Pasay City. 

Set Scores:

Women’s Division

Ateneo-FEU: 11-21, 8-21

Men’s Division 

Ateneo-FEU: 21-23, 19-21

Ateneo-UST: 11-21 15-21