THE ATENEO Women’s Volleyball Team notched their first victory in the Sérgio Veloso era with a 22-25, 20-25, 25-20, 25-17, 15-9 comeback over Katipunan rivals University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons. The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 match was held yesterday at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
With today’s Battle of Katipunan win, the Blue Eagles get on the win column with a 1-2 win-loss record for sixth in the standings.
Veteran stalwart Lyann De Guzman led the Blue and White in scoring with a game-high 24 points off 19 spikes and four blocks. Meanwhile, Geezel Tsunashima came away with 14 excellent digs for Ateneo.
Down 14-18 midway through the opening set, the Blue Eagles managed to answer with impressive block points courtesy of Zey Pacia and Alexis Miner to tie the set at 19-all. However, Ateneo’s momentum quickly fizzled with Joan Monares converting on her drop balls, helping UP close out the first canto to take the opening lead, 25-22.
Shifting gears in the following set, the Loyola Heights-based squad soared to their biggest advantage of the match so far, going up 9-5 in the second set with Miner contributing well-timed attacks. However, UP immediately countered with a flurry of four consecutive block points to take the lead, 11-10. After a back-and-forth affair commenced for the rest of the canto, the Fighting Maroons ultimately took home the second set after benefitting from multiple errors on the side of Ateneo, 25-20.
Despite going down by two sets, the Blue Eagles were able to come up with an impressive third-set performance by relying on their quick hits and net defense. Powerful attacks from Sophia Buena and De Guzman at the backend of the set put the Blue Eagles in position to take to their first set victory of the match. Ahead by two and at set point, De Guzman capped off the frame for Ateneo with a vicious kill, 25-20.
Banking on their confidence from the previous set, the Blue and White completely dominated the fourth frame. By scoring off UP’s errors and with impressive attacks from Pacia and Buena, the Blue Eagles leapt to an 8-2 run midway through the frame, stretching their advantage to 21-11. However, the Fighting Maroons sought to delay an Ateneo set win, going on a 5-3 run of their own. Unfazed by this, Ateneo rendered UP’s run futile as De Guzman sealed the frame to force a deciding fifth set, 25-17.
Determined to complete a reverse sweep, the Blue Eagles got off to a fiery 10-4 start courtesy of Tsunashima and Buena’s combined attacks. Shortly after, De Guzman showcased her veteran composure by scoring back-to-back off an attack through the block and a crosscourt kill, extending Ateneo’s lead to 12-5. However, the Blue Eagles succumbed to consecutive attack errors, allowing the Fighting Maroons to keep within distance in the deciding set, 13-8.
Following an attack error by UP, the Blue and White found themselves at match point for a chance to capture their first win of the season. Tsunashima capped off her solid outing for Ateneo by completing their comeback bid off a powerful attack through the Fighting Maroon blockers, 15-9.
The Blue Eagles hope to build on their newfound momentum as they take on defending champions De La Salle University Lady Spikers on Saturday, March 2, at 4:00 PM at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Box Scores
Ateneo (3): De Guzman – 24, Buena – 18, Tsunashima – 12, Miner – 11, Pacia – 8, Sulit – 2, Delos Santos – 2, Cortez – 2
UP (2): Bustrillo – 17, Ytang – 12, Monares – 10, Jaboneta – 9, Celis – 6, Magsombol – 4, Encarnacion – 3, Cabasac – 2, Baclay – 1, Goc – 1
Set scores: 22-25, 20-25, 25-20, 25-17, 15-9
Standings (W-L)
- UST Golden Tigresses (3-0)
- DLSU Lady Spikers (2-1)
- NU Lady Bulldogs (2-1)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (2-1)
- UE Lady Red Warriors (1-2)
- Ateneo Blue Eagles (1-2)
- AdU Lady Falcons (1-2)
- UP Fighting Maroons (0-3)
