THE ATENEO Blue Eagles claimed a vindictive victory over the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) in straight sets, 25-13, 25-20, 25-16, earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in the City of Manila.

This win puts the Blue Eagles at a 2-1 win-loss standing in the elimination round of the Shakey’s Super League preseason, landing the team a place in the quarterfinals of the competition.

The first canto opened with both teams struggling to claim a lead as the Blue Eagles rallied against the Lady Generals’ equally aggressive and error-plagued attack front. Despite the Manila-based squad’s vigorous display of attacking intention, Ateneo gained the upper hand after Lyann De Guzman’s consecutive service aces, claiming the first lead at 6-3. Although the Blue and White suffered a short-lived deficit, AC Miner rattled the opposition with an unforgiving onset of blocks, 11-10. After De Guzman continued to stun the Lady Generals once more for a clean six-point run, 20-12, Sofia Buena finished the job with two cross-court attacks and a monster block to secure the set, 25-13.

Eager to knock down EAC in another landslide, the Katipunan-based team grappled to keep its composure early on in the second set, as both teams caught one another in an alternating exchange of service errors, 3-6. The growing tension only fueled Ateneo’s Bea Lomocso and Jennifer delos Santos to fire cold-blooded kills down the court as their setter-spiker synergy clinched the squad six-point lead, 19-13. Frantic in recovering from their deficit, the Lady Generals’ herculean efforts at stealing the set were only shut down by Yssa Nisperos, forcing the ball down an unprotected area, 25-20.

Ateneo’s hitters were off to a slow start in the final set, as both teams fired more miscalculated hits left and right, 7-7. Taking advantage of EAC’s disconcerted ground defense, Lomocso meticulously activated Miner and Nisperos to stump the Lady Generals with unreadable attacks, 15-13. While EAC’s Cathrine Almazan valiantly attempted to recover points for her team, an influx of miscommunication errors handed the match to Ateneo, 25-16.

Now with boosted spirits, Ateneo looks to rally against the Arellano University Lady Chiefs on October 14, 11:00 AM at the same venue.

Set Scores: 25-13, 25-20, 21-25, 25-16 

Box Scores:

Ateneo: Nisperos – 7, Buena – 6, Delos Santos – 6, Miner – 6, De Guzman – 5, Furukawa – 4, Lomocso – 4, Pacia – 3, Selga – 3, Sulit – 3, Hora – 1

EAC: Almazan – 9, Villena – 4, De Andres – 3, Lut – 2, Sayago – 2, Brutas – 1, Magalona – 1, Omapas – 1, Razonable – 1