AFTER A poor performance in the first set, the Ateneo Lady Eagles defeated the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors in four sets (21-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-14) on Saturday, February 17 at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
The Lady Eagles currently hold a win-loss record of 2-2 in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Volleyball tournament.
Jho Maraguinot had a statistical triple double, snagging 17 spikes, 12 digs, and 11 receives. Captain Maddie Madayag recorded 5/23 kill blocks and seven spikes, while Bea De Leon tallied three blocks, six spikes, and one ace. The team notched a total of 12 kill blocks.
Ateneo Head Coach Anusorn “Tai” Bundit started Madayag, De Leon, Deanna Wong, Jules Samonte, Maraguinot, Kat Tolentino, and Dani Ravena at libero. Ponggay Gaston came off the bench to replace Samonte for a majority of the game, while Ria Lo replaced Ravena as the team’s libero in the last two sets.
The Lady Eagles led for most of the first set, leading to slow but eventual comeback from UE, forcing Ateneo to call time at 18-19 after a wide hit from Tolentino. Errors by the Blue and White proved costly, as attacks by UE’s Mary Ann Mendrez gave up the set, 21-25.
[1st set] Mendrez takes set point with a spike off the block.
Ateneo 21 UE 25#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/GoCQFv0XmY
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) February 17, 2018
Ateneo was able to contain UE more effectively in the second set. A kill block by De Leon on Mendrez had her team leading by nine at the second technical timeout, 16-7. UE was nearly able to mount a rally to get back in the game, but a kill off the double block by Maraguinot ended the set at 25-18 to tie the match.
[2nd set] Maraguinot takes set point with a kill off the block.
Ateneo 25 UE 18#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/zQcVVcW8Fl
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) February 17, 2018
The roles reversed heading into the third set, with UE leading for most of the early half. A service ace by Maraguinot tied the score at 13-13, which forced UE to call time. Ateneo then went on a 5-1 run after Madayag ended a long rally with a block on Adorador, 18-14. The Blue and White maintained the lead and Maraguinot took the set point with a kill from the back row, 25-21.
[3rd set] Maraguinot finds the line from the back row!
Ateneo 25 UE 21#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/uongyzgyes
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) February 17, 2018
With the momentum on their side, the Katipunan-based squad had the early lead heading into the first technical time-out (TTO) ahead at 8-4. A standing spike down the line by Gaston doubled the lead at the second TTO, bumping the Blue Eagles up to 16-8. Gaston then took match point with a spike off the combination play to give Ateneo the set and the win at 25-14.
[4th set] Gaston takes match point! Excellent set by Wong.
Ateneo 25 UE 14#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/DH0xTHxLDy
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) February 17, 2018
Lack of focus and tense nerves were what derailed the Lady Eagles in the first set, according to Team Captain Maddie Madayag. “Enjoy and focus on the game,” is what Madayag told her team after the first set defeat.
“Enjoy lang and focus on the game.” -Captain Maddie Madayag on what she told her team after the first set loss.#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/MkyBfU0sfv
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) February 17, 2018
Madayag said, “Definitely less errors, more confidence, training, and defense,” Madayag said when asked about the key factors for the next match
The next game for the Lady Eagles will be against the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons on February 21, 2:00 PM, at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Set Scores
Ateneo-UE: 21-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-14
Box Scores
Ateneo: Maraguinot – 20, Madayag – 12, Tolentino – 10, De Leon – 10, Gaston – 9, Samonte – 6, Wong – 4
UE: Adorador – 14, Mendrez – 12, Abil – 6, Rodriguez – 5, Lopez – 4, Bendong – 3, Catindig – 1
