With this year’s University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 Women’s Volleyball tournament underway, this weekly series navigates through the stories surrounding the Blue Eagles as they aim to revive the glory days of Ateneo Volleyball.

FOLLOWING THEIR Saturday matchup, the Ateneo Women’s Volleyball Team (AWVT) now sits in sixth place in the UAAP Season 87 standings—though not without some white-knuckle experiences along the way.

The Blue Eagles’ rocky ride continued with a heartbreaking five-set loss to the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws. Despite their spectacular fourth-set performance in the clutch, Ateneo ultimately succumbed to Faida Bakanke’s ferocious attacks in the deciding frame.

After the game, Ateneo’s struggles did not just end there. The AWVT went on and endured back-to-back losses against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses and the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers. To make matters worse for the Blue and White, offensive anchor Sobe Buena was sidelined with a torn right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury after an awkward landing in the first set versus UST.

Thankfully, the Katipunan-based unit eventually found their groove, overcoming the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors in five grueling sets to snap their skid.

Now, with their rematch against the University of the Philippines (UP) just around the corner, the Blue Eagles seek to make the necessary adjustments to summon a second-round comeback in UAAP Season 87. While the season has been unforgiving so far, one thing stays true—they will do everything in their power to win.

Towering TOTGAs

Carmela: It is truly a bittersweet feeling to walk away with an unfulfilled destiny. For this mid-season, the Blue Eagles suffered from countless almosts due to their TOTGA (The One That Got Away) stories as a result of errors on the floor. With certain circumstances standing in the way, what is needed to get their happy ending?

The Katipunan-based squad were worn out by the FEU Lady Tamaraws in their first-round bout. Accumulating 32 errors throughout the encounter, Ateneo lost hold of their chance to gain their second win by a narrow margin.

In this five-set thriller against FEU, faulty plays noticeably caused Ateneo to lose sets. Given a team with defensive prowess such as the Lady Tamaraws, maintaining clean play is key. With that, the Blue Eagles must counterbalance through skillful ball placements. This is certainly not ideal, given that Ateneo is home to the ninth and tenth best scorers of the season in AC Miner and Lyann De Guzman, respectively.

Such careless slips can further deepen the wound, as seen in Ateneo’s match against the University of the East (UE) Lady Red Warriors. Comparing the standings of the two teams, it was predicted that the Blue Eagles would finish the job like cakewalk. But for a game that ended up in five sets, it is nerve-wracking how a simple fault would have given UE their first win of the season.

The Lady Red Warriors serve as a reminder to never lower your defenses against a hungered foe. A play prone to oversights will work in the favor of your adversary, as evidenced by the Blue Eagles’ first and third set. Ateneo totaled up 27 errors in this game, bordering on sacrificing the closest bet they have to attaining their second win for Season 87.

Is it perhaps a “right person, wrong time” scenario? I don’t think so. Despite the loss of significant attackers due to injuries, I would say that the women of Katipunan have more than a fighting chance to boost their standings for the rest of the season.

With the second round approaching, I hope to see the odds sway in the Blue and White’s favor. Despite walking through a thorny road, they still managed to persevere throughout the trials they have faced. It takes such courage to show up and give your best effort when facing an uphill battle. Therefore, I know this roster is meant for great things. In the end, may they be this season’s TOTGA: the one that got around.

Compromised nest

Ravi: Turning around things also necessitates addressing key issues. Another issue undermining Ateneo’s campaign is their frail defense. The Blue and White ranks last in the league in blocking with only a total of 25 kill blocks and an average of 0.89 blocks per set.

For a team that lost the majority of its spikers, accumulating block points is one way to resurrect their weakened offense. Apart from scoring, opposing squads have also penetrated the Blue Eagle blockers with ease.

Shaina Nitura’s then-record-tying 33-point performance in the season opener was an indication of challenging things to come. Since then, Ateneo has fallen victim to various scoring outbursts from opponents who exploit their inability to anticipate attacks.

Perhaps, the more concerning issue is the shakeup in their middle blocker rotation. Ateneo’s previous outing against UE saw Miner become the middle blocker once again after being converted into an opposite hitter. Despite Miner’s prowess from the wing, Head Coach Sergio Veloso may have opted to reactivate her as a blocker because of their frontline struggles.

The decision, however, sacrifices one strength to solve a weakness, which Ateneo cannot afford in a season plagued with multiple disadvantages. The switch also highlights how  Veloso’s players are still getting accustomed to their roles halfway through the season—a wake-up call for Jihan Chuatico, Yvana Sulit, and Rob Silla to hold their own in the middle. After all, these three Blue Eagles—alongside Miner—have already proven themselves as decorated blockers in the past.

If Ateneo cannot offer resistance at the frontline, then they should at least be able to keep the ball alive using their floor defense. However, this is currently not the case for the AWVT, who ranks last in digging and fifth in receiving.

The exit of former Captain-Libero Roma Mae Doromal clearly left a hole in Ateneo’s backline, which has yet to be fully fulfilled by Sarah Hugo and Fiona Arroyo. Although the liberos have hustled to save possessions during rallies such as this play against UP, they still have a lot of improvements to make in their positioning and reaction speed.

In a league full of high-level scorers, the AWVT will need to make adjustments in their front-row and back-row defense. Otherwise, the Blue Eagles’ campfire will continue being infiltrated by spikers looking to shut the door on an Ateneo comeback.

Smiling through adversity

Rav: If there were ever a better time to prove your loyalty as an Ateneo fan, it is now. That may be tough to hear, with the Blue Eagles’ Final Four chances seeming more distant than ever. Some fans have already thrown the towel, declaring that the season is over. Even I, admittedly, have shared the same sentiment after the game against UST.

Heading into the season proper, I held onto faint optimism that Ateneo would finally “soar” and take its rightful place in the Final Four. However, injury after injury slowly chipped away at that hope and replaced it with dread, as all my initial expectations came crashing down like a huge splat.

Yet, in stark contrast to my frankly embarrassing grievances, the team has remained level-headed and unfazed against the tumultuous tide that is Season 87. If anything, the Blue Eagles have gone above and beyond, adapting to any circumstance that flies their way. Alexia Montoro and Silla embody this very grit through their exploits on the taraflex.

In the game against the Golden Tigresses, Montoro elevated her play en route to a seven-point performance, shouldering the offensive hole left by Buena’s early exit. Meanwhile, the rookie middle blocker’s four-point outing against UE catalyzed Ateneo’s narrow victory.

Imagine that—rookies, who normally would take time to ease into the daily grind of the UAAP season, have already proven themselves to be vital contributors on the court. The veterans are no exception, with players like Miner and Zey Pacia taking on unfamiliar roles to fill the roster gap. Despite what may be one of the strangest seasons in Ateneo sports history, these players have made do with what they have and blossomed accordingly.

One quick look at the team tells me that their determination has not waned—so what about us, the fans? While many stand by the team through thick and thin, others grow exceedingly disappointed with the current string of results, some even rushing to predict the season’s outcome. But to those fans, I ask: So what?

I know how hard it is to see your expectations crumble due to the shifting tides—believe me, I do. Nonetheless, it is in these rough times that we, as fans, should show our unwavering support for the players. So what if this season is not going as planned? Like it or not, they still wear the Blue and White with pride—many of them even adapting to the situation.

Seeing that, how could I not stay on board the Ateneo ship for the long haul? The season is still far from over. Moreover, who knows? Maybe, just maybe, this faith will be rewarded.

Upcoming games

Saturday, March 22, at 4:00 PM, vs. the UP Fighting Maroons at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

Saturday, March 29, at 1:00 PM, vs. the Adamson Soaring Lady Falcons at the Smart Araneta Coliseum