THE ATENEO Blue Eagles ended their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Women’s Volleyball Tournament run with a crushing loss against the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs, 25-21, 30-28, 14-25, 13-25, 13-15. The five-set showdown was held this morning at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in the City of San Juan.

While Ateneo began the match with a relentless display of offense, NU’s Michaela Belen evened out the playing field with attacks amid Ateneo’s ferocity, 7-8. However, NU began to falter against Ateneo’s wide court coverage, handing easy points to the Blue Eagles with consecutive attacks slamming outside, 15-15. 

Double-bodied with Team Captain Faith Nisperos and Taks Fujimoto at her side, Joan Narit’s sharp presence at the net shut down NU’s chances of recovering from a deficit, 23-17. Stalled by the blocker’s undeniable precision, the Bulldogs struggled to overthrow the Katipunan-based team towards the end of the first canto, which ended in 25-21 in favor of the Blue Eagles.

[Set 1]

Gandler's service ace gives the Blue Eagles their largest lead of the set.

Ateneo 21 NU 17#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/G2EhIwr7Za

— Luis Antonio Licas (@Luis_TheGUIDON) April 29, 2023

The back-and-forth affair would continue in the second frame. While Vanie Gandler and Nisperos traded points early on in the set, the Lady Bulldogs eventually gained a two-point advantage, courtesy of Belen’s back-to-back attacks, 8-10. However, Nisperos quickly countered with a point off-the-block and a beautiful drop ball right after to tie the set, 11-11. Both sides would trade points until NU proceeded to go on a short run off a powerful kill by Alyssa Solomon and a violation on Ateneo, 19-16. 

The Blue Eagles’ Team Captain was called on once again to stop the drought, and coupled with a few errors on the Lady Bulldogs’ side, the AWVT were able to string together a run of their own. Capped off by a crosscourt attack by Gandler, the Blue Eagles were able to carve a three point lead, 23-20. The Lady Bulldogs, however, were able to extend the set after a series of errors on the side of Ateneo. The Blue Eagles finally found their separator following a monster block by Fujimoto and Narit, followed by the latter’s block point to claim the set, 30-28.

[Set 2]

An incredible recovery by Doromal leads to Gandler's cross-court attack.

Ateneo 22 NU 19#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/NbC892qXII

— Luis Antonio Licas (@Luis_TheGUIDON) April 29, 2023

Ateneo maximized all available attackers in the third set, gaining momentum from clean attacks, until the Bulldogs quickly read through their tactics. NU skipper Belen consistently nipped at the Blue Eagles’ first line of defense, forcing Ateneo into a six-point drought at 10-16. With the Lady Bulldogs maintaining its defensive composure, the Blue Eagles then suffered a larger deficit at the unbending hands of Bulldog blockers, 11-20. Ateneo dropped its first chance at claiming the match in a 14-25 landslide after a sharp spike from Nisperos was denied at the net.

The Lady Bulldogs banked on their newfound momentum to take the fourth frame in a similar fashion. Gandler’s attack to tie the set at 5-5 would mark the last deadlock of the canto, as NU proceeded to set the pace from thereon. Solomon led the charge for the Lady Bulldogs’ 10-3 run to end the set, capped off by two clean attacks from Belen. An attack error by the Blue Eagles sent the match into a deciding final set, 13-25.

The fifth canto saw a vigorous ball exchange between both teams, with the Bulldogs hammering down on Ateneo to dominate the first half of the set, 5-8. Hungry to overtake NU, the Blue Eagles leaned on Alexis Miner and Nisperos to tie the set, 12-12. The heartstopping set nearly concluded following an attack by Belen and an attack error by Nisperos, setting up NU for match point, 12-14. A timely kill by Miner gave hope for an Ateneo comeback, 13-14. However, Belen proceeded to shut down any hope the Blue Eagles had with a powerful crosscourt attack to snatch the victory from Ateneo, 13-15.

[Set 5]

Belen puts Ateneo away with a powerful attack, completing NU's reverse sweep.

Ateneo 13 NU 15#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/6kAy9l1UlX

— Luis Antonio Licas (@Luis_TheGUIDON) April 29, 2023

Closing off their final eliminations match, the Blue Eagles are put to rest at a 4-10 win-loss standing in the Women’s Volleyball Tournament, good for sixth place. 

Set Scores: 

25-21, 30-28, 14-25, 13-25, 13-15

Box Scores:

Ateneo: Gandler  – 20 , Nisperos – 17, Miner – 12, Narit – 8, Tsunashima – 2, Fujimoto – 1 

NU: Belen – 26, Solomon – 25, Pangilinan – 13, Toring – 13, Robles – 11, Alinsug – 3, Lamina – 3