THE ATENEO Lady Spikers have once again secured a spot in the championship round of the women’s volleyball tournament after overpowering second seed National University (NU), 3-1, in their knockout match. The do-or-die game held on Saturday, March 1, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum saw the Lady Spikers eliminate NU in four sets, 25-22, 8-25, 25-19, 25-22.
The Lady Spikers got off to a rough start after committing four consecutive unforced errors early in the first set. Team Captain Alyssa Valdez then stopped NU’s 4-0 run with an attack of her own, and followed through until the score was at 6-8. Back-to-back hits and a stunning block from the ever-reliable Ella De Jesus then tied the game at 11, but Aiko Urdas and Dindin Santiago managed to recuperate and give NU a comfortable 3-point margin.
The Lady Spikers then tried to turn the tables by taking charge of the offense. Their efforts were rewarded as the squad gained some steam which set up a crafty conversion by Valdez to bring them at set point, 24-22. With the momentum on their side, the Lady Spikers were able to pitch in the point they needed to draw first blood at 25-22.
The second set, however, saw NU breaking Ateneo’s momentum as they improved their defense and denied almost all of the Lady Spikers’ advances. Rookie Michelle Morente dominated the offensive play during the first part of the second set, but NU’s blockers Dindin and Jaja Santiago saw through her tactics and denied her succeeding attempts.
With the help of Myla Pablo, the Santiago sisters rejected every endeavor presented by Ateneo attackers Amy Ahomiro, Morente, and even Valdez. Before they knew it, NU ended the second set with a massive 17-point lead at 8-25, tying the match at one set apiece.
Ateneo’s Head Coach Tai Bundit saw through NU’s defensive strategies and changed the Lady Spikers’ gameplay right before the start of the third set. He focused on combination plays and quick attacks that could potentially disorient NU’s frontline of blockers.
Setter Jia Morado became very crucial in the fulfillment of the new game plan. Her effective distribution of the ball and utilization of both back and front row players proved to confuse NU’s towering blockers as attacks from De Jesus, Morente, and Ahomiro incessantly sailed through until they hit the crucial 22-18 mark. Miscommunication between the Lady Spikers cost them a point, but daunting service aces from Valdez and main blocker Aerieal Patnongon forced a set point at 24-19. A decisive service error from Dindin Santiago eventually gave Ateneo the third set and allowed them to regain control of the match.
The Lady Spikers held the lead in most parts of the fourth set, care of service aces from Ahomiro and sharp, well-placed strikes from De Jesus. NU fought to stay alive and maintained a back-and-forth affair with Ateneo, but the Lady Spikers exhibited excellent composure that carried on until they reached a crucial tally of 23-19.
Dindin Santiago, knowing that this was her last chance to make a finals appearance in her UAAP career, carried NU on her back and pushed for a 22-23 mark. Unfortunately for Santiago, she could not complete NU’s comeback attempt as her service sailed out of bounds to position Ateneo at set point. Valdez ultimately sealed the deal at 25-22, giving the Lady Spikers the point they needed to clinch their third consecutive finals appearance.
Alyssa Valdez spearheaded Ateneo’s charge with 22 points, 16 from attacks, 5 from blocks and 1 from a service ace. She, however, was not alone as she got more than enough support most notably from De Jesus and Morente.
After eliminating NU, the Ateneo Lady Spikers will march on to face three-time defending champions De La Salle University (DLSU) in the Finals for the third consecutive season. DLSU will hold a thrice-to-beat advantage over Ateneo once the series begins on Wednesday, March 5, due to their unblemished elimination round record (14-0). The match is scheduled to begin at 4PM at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, right after Game 2 of the men’s volleyball Finals between the Ateneo Blue Spikers and NU.
