AFTER A near collapse in the third set, the Ateneo Lady Eagles fell in four sets to the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers, 20-25, 17-25, 26-24, 20-25, on Saturday, March 3 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Lady Eagles conclude the first round with a win-loss record of 4-3 in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Volleyball tournament.
Bea De Leon caught fire at the net, recording six kill blocks. Even with the poor performance on the service reception, Deanna Wong was able to pull off 36 excellent sets. Reception woes, however, plagued the Lady Eagles, as La Salle’s 16 service aces proved to be Ateneo’s downfall.
Ateneo Head Coach Anusorn “Tai” Bundit was not present as he is currently in Thailand for the death anniversary of his father-in-law. Assistant coach Sherwin Meneses took over and started Maddie Madayag, De Leon, Wong, Jules Samonte, Jho Maraguinot, and Kat Tolentino. Ria Lo and Syd Eleazar split the role of libero, making up for the absence of Dani Ravena, who is still recovering from an appendicitis.
The Lady Archers ruled the first set with multiple service aces. An attack by DLSU’s Majoy Baron gave her team an eight-point lead heading into the second technical timeout, 8-16. Ateneo’s blocking allowed them to cut the deficit slightly, but a quick attack from La Salle eventually forced them to surrender the first set, 20-25.
[1st set] The Lady Archers take the set with a quick.
Ateneo 20 DLSU 25#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/9ZXqhMlluQ
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) March 3, 2018
The second set began close, with the Lady Eagles earning a small lead off Wong’s service ace, 13-11. The rest of the set was disastrous for Ateneo, as DLSU battered their rivals with a 14-4 scoring run. Michelle Cobb, La Salle’s 164cm tall setter, ended the set with a rare kill block, 17-25.
[2nd set] Cobb’s block ends the set.
Ateneo 17 DLSU 25#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/Rw8jY9PgJ6
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) March 3, 2018
The Blue and White kicked off the third set on full throttle, using blocking as the key to their scoring run. A kill by Tolentino against the double block put the Lady Eagles ahead by ten, 21-11. La Salle then completely turned the tables and nabbed a 10-0 scoring run highlighted by back-to-back aces from DLSU’s Desiree Cheng to make it a 21-21 game.
Ateneo almost completely collapsed when a wide attack by Tolentino put their rivals at match point, 22-24. Maraguinot, however, was eventually able to tie the score, and a strong hit by Tolentino down the middle gifted them the set, 26-24.
[3rd set] Kat Tolentino takes set point!
Ateneo 26 DLSU 24#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/UNAIbg5ekT
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) March 3, 2018
The Taft-based squad slowly built up an 11-16 lead heading into the second technical timeout of the fourth set. Ateneo tried to inch the gap, but poor play from Tolentino and further bombardment from DLSU towards the service line put them in a precarious position. A block on Tolentino put La Salle at set point, and a service error by Samonte ultimately concluded the set and the match, 20-25.
[4th set] Samonte’s service error surrenders the set and the match.
Ateneo 20 DLSU 25#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/kdUNyJy0vW
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) March 3, 2018
La Salle scored double digits from the service line in Ravena’s absence, and Ateneo used their blocking in an attempt to make up for the empty spot. Wong was also able to outplay Cobb, who was consistently subbed out for backup setter Carmel Saga.
An unexpected factor was Tolentino’s poor play, as she was consistently blocked by DLSU’s Kim Dy and Cobb at the end of the second set. If the Lady Eagles wish to prevail over their rivals, they will have to play with more energy and a stronger will to win the second time around.
The schedule for the second round is yet to be decided and will be based on the standings of the first round. The games on Sunday, March 4 have yet to be played out as of the time of writing.
Set Scores
Ateneo-DLSU: 20-25, 17-25, 26-24, 20-25
Box Scores
Ateneo: Maraguinot – 13, Tolentino – 12, De Leon – 11, Madayag – 10, Samonte – 7, Wong – 2
DLSU: Dy – 21, Tiamzon – 13, Cheng – 11, Baron – 10, Ogunsanya – 10, Cobb – 6, Saga – 1
