IN AN impressive display of skill, the Ateneo Women’s Volleyball Team trounced the Arellano University (AU) Lady Chiefs in a commanding three-set sweep, 25-17, 25-18, and 25-18, in the Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-Season Championship. The match was held earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in the City of Manila.
This win places the Blue Eagles at a 2-1 win-loss record in Pool A of the first round, with Zey Pacia and Team Captain Lyann De Guzman converting 10 points apiece to dominate the game.
The first set began with both teams struggling to assert dominance as they battled to break past the five-point mark. However, the Blue Eagles quickly spotted the Lady Chiefs’ defensive gaps, with strong hits from Outside Hitter Sophia Buena lifting Ateneo to an 11-7 lead.
Guzman also showcased her on-court creativity, delivering powerful blocks and kills which extended Ateneo’s advantage to 16-8. Alongside Buena, veteran Middle Blocker AC Miner added attacking pressure, further widening the Blue Eagles’ margin to an eight-point advantage, 22-14. Decisively closing the first canto, De Guzman capped off the set with a thunderous spike, sealing it at 25-17.
A slight change in the lineup led to a bumpy start in the second set, forcing the Blue Eagles to regroup. Despite their slight drawback, Ateneo bounced back with an impressive response to Arellano’s aggressive gameplay. Opposite Hitter Zey Pacia emerged as the standout performer in the set, skillfully anticipating and exploiting openings found in the Legarda-based team’s defense, 6-3.
Ateneo maintained control as the set progressed, with Pacia leading the charge by targeting different sides of the opposite court, amping up the score to 14-10. Miner joined her in a relentless offensive effort, with the duo wreaking havoc on the opposing side, 22-17. At last, the Blue Eagles clinched the second set at 25-18, as AU’s efforts to overpower Ateneo only ended in frustration.
The Blue and White were eager to seal their victory in the final frame, but the excitement led to another shaky start as they fell behind 3-5. Despite this mini-slump, Ateneo’s key players quickly regained their rhythm as Buena and Miner continued to score from various angles, storming down on Arellano’s fragile defense to take a 10-8 lead.
Middle Blocker Yvana Sulit’s tactical skillset proved crucial down the stretch as she excelled in both offense and defense, contributing key points through blocks and drop balls, 18-13. Though tension mounted towards the end, Ateneo’s composure shone through the grueling back-and-forth affair, as the Blue Eagles clinched the sweep with a score of 25-18 in the final set.
Bolstering their postseason bid, the Blue Eagles will return on Wednesday, October 16, to face the Emilio Aguinaldo College Lady Generals at 3:30 PM in the same venue.
Box scores:
Ateneo (3): De Guzman – 10, Pacia – 10, Buena – 8, Miner – 5, Tsunashima – 5, Sulit – 4, Silla – 3, Delos Santos – 3, Nisperos – 1, Chuatico – 1
AU (0): Punzalan – 5, Padillon – 5, Tiratira – 5, Mangubat – 5, Adante – 2, Magaling – 2, Al-ag – 2, Ceballos – 2, De Guzman – 1, Domasig – 1, Palalon – 1, Segovia – 1,
Set scores:
Ateneo-AU: 25-17, 25-18, 25-18
Pool A Standings (W-L):
- NU Lady Bulldogs (2-0)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (2-1)
- AU Lady Chiefs (2-1)
- SBU Lady Red Spikers (1-2)
- EAC Lady Generals (0-3)
