With the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament fast approaching, the Ateneo Women’s Volleyball Team (AWVT) looks to return stronger than ever. This preview will examine the Blue Eagles’ roster changes and off-season performances before the team sets their sights on reclaiming their place among the UAAP elite.
THE PAST two seasons have been unkind to the Blue Eagles—as in both UAAP Season 85 and 86, the AWVT has missed the playoffs and finished below .500. This situation appears dire for a team that once totaled eight consecutive podium finishes since the “Fab Five.”
Nonetheless, if there should be a defining feature in the Blue and White’s rebuilding phase, it must be their patience to let their players develop and find their moment to strike.
For example, although all signs pointed to the inexperienced Ateneo struggling in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Pre-Season Championship, they proved otherwise. Game after game, the AWVT showcased excellent form against former and current UAAP champions such as the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers and National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs.
Following this performance, a growing consensus is now emerging within Loyola Heights: one that declares that this is the time the Blue Eagles will soar again.
As the beginning of the Blue and White’s story of resurgence draws even closer, here are three key narratives surfacing ahead of the season opener on Saturday.
1. One more fight
Photo by Veida Bongco
Rav: Let us get one thing straight: despite all their vulnerabilities, the Blue Eagles command respect.
If one were to only focus on AWVT’s 5-9 win-loss record just a year ago, they would ignore the broader context behind their Season 86 campaign. Truth be told, this spirited group from Loyola Heights was one of the few teams that came close to taking down the likes of DLSU, NU, and the University of the Santo Tomas (UST).
In the first round, for instance, the Blue and White endured a tough 2-3 loss to then-reigning finalists NU, even with AC Miner’s heroic offensive efforts. Another heartbreak came against UST, where the Blue Eagles nearly came back from a 0-2 set deficit behind Lyann De Guzman’s masterful 22-point outing, only to fall short 13-15 in the final frame.
The results highlighted the stark reality of the UAAP being a top-heavy league and the sheer effort required to break into the postseason. Fortunately, change is brewing in Katipunan.
Ateneo’s SSL campaign further affirmed said claim, with how the team consistently kept up with Season 86’s postseason teams in pace. However, more impressive was the composure that the Blue and White displayed when behind.
One key example is the Ateneo-DLSU game in the preseason tournament, where the Katipunan-based team dropped two sets off the bat. In most scenarios, the lower seed would have capitulated under the pressure, yet the Blue Eagles fought back to tie it at two sets apiece. Though the AWVT eventually lost the match after a tight 15-17 final set, the game blazed their gritty nature.
Such a trait is the perfect ingredient for a dark horse team, and if history has taught us anything, the unyielding underdog can be far more threatening than the typical contender. Time after time, the Blue Eagles have shown their propensity to never give up—consistently pushing their opponents to the brink regardless of the outcome.
That begs the question: if Ateneo is always so close to the finish line, what happens when they finally cross it?
2. Stronger, Better, Together
Photo by Jillian Santos
Ravi: In a 14-game tourney, falling behind early in the standings can be unforgiving for a Final Four hopeful. While last season’s struggles were compounded by the unfamiliarity of new Blue Eagles entering the nest, the AWVT believes that having spent an extra year of preparation together will spell the difference come UAAP Season 87.
“Mas consistent na kami sa game namin ngayon sa training and skills” [Our game now is more consistent in terms of training and skills], stated De Guzman when asked about the improvements she expects her team to showcase. Fellow veteran Jennifer Delos Santos also discussed how Ateneo is much more versed in Head Coach Sergio Veloso’s system, emphasizing the importance of trusting their plays even in intense moments.
With only Roma Mae Doromal graduating from last season’s starting lineup, an intact core will bolster the Blue and White. For a team led by a coach who focuses on communication and defense, the chemistry that the Blue Eagles have built from last year will be pivotal in minimizing their errors.
Although Ateneo struggled with mistake-plagued defeats to start the SSL, the unit showed flashes of how familiarity can increase their chances of winning, allowing less than 25 points off errors in their last two matches.
In terms of scoring, the same advantage bred by the Blue Eagles’ heightened synergy can be leveraged with Taks Fujimoto’s command of the floor. The veteran’s experience as the starting setter has expanded her ability to read the defense and set up plays for her teammates. Furthermore, the Davao native stands to gain from playing alongside long-time teammates De Guzman and Miner, who have established themselves as the team’s consistent main scorers.
Wing spikers Sophia Buena, Geezel Tsunashima, and Delos Santos will also be viable options for the setter in their continuous evolution as offensive threats, adding to Ateneo’s possible points of attack.
While only time will tell how far the Blue Eagles’ improved cohesion can take them, the foundation for every successful sports team is already present: belief in the system and one another. When all is said and done, that may be what it takes to propel the AWVT to new heights.
3. Fortifying the backbone
Photo by Veida Bongco
Laurence: Aside from banking on their veterans’ refined skills and leadership, the AWVT will look to their youth for a bigger impact in this upcoming season. Among Ateneo’s budding core is sophomore setter KC Cortez, who played a key role in the Blue Eagles’ campaigns last UAAP season and in SSL—displaying poise and maturity in five-set thrillers against University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons and powerhouse DLSU.
In season 86, then-rookie Cortez showed guts by playing a key role in Ateneo’s comeback against the Fighting Maroons. About to face defeat against their Katipunan neighbors, Coach Veloso decided to put Cortez in where she made an immediate impact. The Blue Eagles ended up winning that game with a reverse sweep.
Cortez has stepped up as the Blue and White’s floor general when their starting setter is on the bench. Beyond her performances versus La Salle and UP, the promising playmaker from Bacolod showcased her upside with a promising four-point game against Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC).
Alongside Cortez, sophomore Zey Pacia also significantly improved as an opposite hitter in the pre-season. Compared to her rookie year, Pacia has become more aggressive in her attacks while also demonstrating tenacity on defense. This has made the versatile player a valuable asset for the Katipunan-based team, as seen in her ten-point outing against the Arellano University Lady Chiefs and her eight-point output against NU in the SSL.
Alongside Cortez and Pacia, blue-chip recruits Jihan Chuatico and Alexia Montoro have come to Loyola Heights to help the Blue and White ascend into contender status.
Hailing from Bacolod, Chuatico has provided an intimidating presence in the middle for the Blue Eagles with her incredibly quick attacks and terrifying blocks, highlighted by her seven-point performance against EAC.
Fellow Bacolodnon Montoro also showed her potential in the SSL. In just her debut, she displayed her chops with a seven-point performance versus EAC playing as an opposite spiker. Her performance earned her Player of the Game honors.
With a promising young nucleus, the Blue Eagles are once again shaping up to be a formidable force. As Cortez, Pacia, Chuatico, and Montoro continue to develop, they are not just building for this season—but are laying down the foundation for the next generation of Queen Eagles.
Opening game
Sunday, February 16, at 1:00 PM, vs. the Adamson Lady Falcons at the Mall of Asia Arena
Last Season’s Elimination Round Standings (W-L):
- NU Lady Bulldogs (12-2)
- UST Golden Tigresses (12-2)
- DLSU Lady Spikers (11-3)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (9-5)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (5-9)
- UE Lady Red Warriors (3-11)
- AdU Lady Falcons (3-11)
- UP Fighting Maroons (1-13)
