THE ATENEO Men’s and Women’s Beach Volleyball Teams ended the fourth day of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Beach Volleyball Tournament with mixed results. 

The Women’s Team dropped their first match of the day against the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons, but bagged their first win against the University of the East (UE) Lady Red Warriors. The Men’s Team brought home a win and a loss against rivals De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Spikers and National University (NU) Bulldogs, respectively. 

In the women’s division, Pia Ildefonso and Yssa Nisperos started strong by getting the first set against AdU at 22-20. However, the Lady Falcons responded with improved offensive and defensive posture to take back the next sets, 21-11, 15-8, denying Ateneo the win. Ildefonso and Nisperos did not let their initial loss stop them, as the tandem bounced back to bag their first victory of the season against the Lady Red Warriors with a hard-won sweep at 24-22, 21-18.

Today’s matches shut out the Women’s Team from chances at the Final Four, with a 1-5 win-loss standing at seventh place.

Over in the men’s division, Jian Salarzon and Amil Pacinio made an easy game of the DLSU Green Spikers, sweeping them at 21-15, 21-16. However, they were unable to bring the same fire against the NU Bulldogs who defeated them in straight sets, 14-21, 11-21. 

Despite the mixed results from the Men’s Team, the Blue Eagles are poised to make it into the Final Four with a 4-2 standing, perched at third seed.

The next games will be held on Sunday, November 27, at Sands SM by the Bay in Pasay City. The Women’s Team will face the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws at 8:40 AM, while the Men’s Team will battle it out against the FEU Tamaraws at 12:00 PM.

Set Scores:

Women’s Division

Ateneo-AdU: 22-20, 21-11, 15-8

Ateneo-UE: 24-22, 21-18

Men’s Division 

Ateneo-DLSU:  21-15, 21 – 16

Ateneo-NU: 14-21, 11-21