THE ATENEO Beach Volleyball Teams started their campaigns in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 Beach Volleyball tournament on the wrong foot, finishing the day with winless records. All three games were held earlier today at the Sands at SM by the Bay in Pasay City.

The Women’s Team kicked off the action for the Blue Eagles with a loss against the University of the East (UE), 1-2, and closed their day with another loss against reigning champions University of Santo Tomas (UST), 0-2. Meanwhile, the Men’s Team dropped their lone match of the day against Season 86 runner-up National University (NU), 0-2.

Women’s match vs. UE

Opening their Season 86 campaign against the UE Lady Warriors, returning veteran Liz Lomocso and rookie Grydelle Matibag looked to start the season off with a win. Awarded as Season 85’s UAAP High School Most Valuable Player, Matibag proved her worth immediately, as the rookie scored six attack points for the Blue Eagles in the first set to keep the match close at the midway point, 10-11.

However, UE’s balanced attack from Van Bangayan and Krisha Revilla constantly kept the Lady Warriors ahead, keeping the Blue Eagles at bay. Although Lomocso contributed six points in the first set, the Loyola-based squad fell to the Lady Warriors, 18-21.

Eager to avenge their first-set loss against the Lady Warriors, the Blue Eagles came out with renewed vigor in the second frame, keeping the scores level at 7-all. The constant deadlock between both teams carried on throughout the match, as Matibag and Bangayan exchanged attacks to keep the set at a 12-all deadlock.

The Blue Eagles then upped their game, as relentless floor defense and an unwavering attack from the Katipunan tandem saw them knocking on the door of their first set victory this season, 19-15. Lomocso then closed out the frame to bring the game level at one set apiece, 21-15.

Despite their strong second set finish, the Blue and White were unable to sustain their momentum, quickly falling into a 0-4 hole to start the do-or-die third frame. Steadying the ship with her veteran presence, Lomocso brought the Blue Eagles back into contention after scoring two points and capitalizing on their opponent’s errors.

However, Bangayan and Revilla showed vigor to secure the match for UE, teaming up with consecutive attacks that saw them two points away from their first win on opening day. In response, Matibag was quick to deny UE from match point, scoring her third point of the set, and Ateneo’s eleventh overall. However, this would serve as the last point for the Blue Eagles in their debut match, as Revilla ended any hopes for a reverse sweep, 11-15.

Men’s match vs. NU

Prized recruit JM Yu and veteran Team Captain Amil Pacinio looked to get Ateneo off on the right track in their opening match against NU’s Alex Iraya and Rain Gemarino. The mix of youth and experience proved vital at the start of the contest, as Yu scored his first official point as a Blue Eagle to bring the contest to a 2-2 deadlock.

Despite the early brilliance from the Negros Occidental native, several attacking errors from the Blue and White put them at an early disadvantage, as NU rattled off seven-straight points to blow past the Blue Eagles and take a 2-9 lead.

Following a timeout, the duo from Loyola Heights gained composure and confidence, trimming the margin to five, 6-11, off a roll shot by the rookie. However, NU’s Gemarino provided a towering presence at the net, making Ateneo struggle in finding the open spots on the court, to help establish the largest lead of the set, 8-17. After an exchange of errors and strong floor defense from the Bulldogs, the Blue Eagles were unable to come back, dropping the first set, 14-21.

Looking to tie the game with one set apiece, Ateneo started the second set off strong, gaining a 7-3 lead with a more aggressive attacking and serving from Pacinio. The Blue Eagles also showed an improved effort on reception, allowing them to stay in contention even as NU’s Iraya started to sky and bring momentum to the Bulldogs.

Despite the Blue Eagles’ strong start, a massive one-handed block from Gemarino turned the tides of the second set, as the Bulldogs capitalized on an array of wide attacks from Ateneo to suddenly bring the contest out of reach at 11-19. Although Yu made one last effort to spur a comeback for the Blue Eagles, Gemarino brought the match to a close after a spike that went off the block, closing the game at 13-21.

Women’s match vs. UST

Hoping to shake off their loss earlier in the day, the Blue Eagles once again fielded Lomocso and Matibag as they faced off against the seven-time defending champion UST Tiger Sands.

Composed of Sofiah Pagara and rookie Khy Progella, the team from España got off to a roaring start with multiple down the line attacks and a massive spike that saw them jump ahead, 4-10. Gaining more chemistry and experience as a team, the Katipunan-based squad showed their perseverance to knock UST’s lead down to two courtesy of a Matibag placement shot, 11-13.

Progella brought order back to the Tiger Sands as she maximized on Ateneo’s miscommunication at the net, scoring off the block to bring UST’s lead back to six, 13-19. Although the Blue Eagles fought off two set points with a Lomocso ace, Tiger Sands eventually finished the set on top, 17-21.

The Tiger Sands took advantage of their excellent floor defense to once again take an early lead in the second frame, 1-4. Despite their adversary’s strong start, the Blue Eagles continued to keep the match close, with Lomocso showing her experience with a second-touch attack to tied the game, 6-all.

Not to be outdone, however, Pagara unleashed a variety of attacks that further put UST ahead, 7-13. After a timeout, Ateneo found stability in veteran Lomocso, nailing a down the line point to momentarily halt the España-based squad’s scoring run. In spite of the Blue and White’s comeback attempt, the Tiger Sands finished the match with a Progella knuckle shot, 13-21.

The Men’s Beach Volleyball Team will look to gain their first win of the tournament tomorrow against UST at 8:30 AM followed by a bout against UE at 3:30 PM. Meanwhile, the Women’s Team hopes to bounce back as they face De La Salle University at 10:45 AM, with all games to be held at the same venue.

Set scores:

Women’s Division

Ateneo-UE: 18-21, 21-15, 11-15

Ateneo-UST: 17-21, 13-21

Men’s Division

Ateneo-NU: 14-21, 13-21