THE ATENEO Women’s Volleyball Team (AWVT) bounced back from their quarterfinals loss with a dominant straight-set victory over the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors, 25–21, 25–17, 25–22. The 5th-8th place classification match of the Shakey’s Super League Pre-Season Championship took place earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in the City of Manila.

Starting setter Taks Fujimoto was hailed as the Player of the Game after earning 12 excellent sets, along with three points, to steer Ateneo’s well-distributed offense. Wing spiker Geezel Tsunashima racked up an impressive 11 points, all from attacks, while Yssa Nisperos and Team Captain Lyann De Guzman also contributed to the Blue Eagles’ offensive effort, adding seven and 10 markers, respectively.

On the other hand, Casiey Dongallo led the Lady Warriors in a losing effort, emerging as their lone double-digit scorer with 10 points.

Ateneo came out strong at the beginning of the first set, with AC Miner immediately firing back-to-back points to give the Blue Eagles an early lead, 2-0. Meanwhile, De Guzman and Tsunashima stepped up to showcase the team’s offensive depth, further extending the lead, 9-2.

With Ateneo holding a game-high seven-point lead, the Recto-based squad refused to back down, mounting a huge scoring run courtesy of KC Cepada and Riza Nogales. The Lady Warriors eventually erased Ateneo’s advantage at 17-all with a service ace from Kizzie Madriaga.

Thanks to Fujimoto’s steady setting, the Blue and White responded with five straight points, highlighted by the playmaker’s back-to-back aces, to put Ateneo at set point at 24-19. De Guzman ultimately delivered the final blow off a perfect side-spin attack, securing the crucial first-set win for Ateneo, 25-21.

With both teams fielding in a new mix of players in the second set, the Blue Eagles quickly found their rhythm, as Alexia Montoro’s down-the-line hit was quickly followed by a service ace from KC Cortez to give them an early 2-0 lead.

Ateneo built a solid lead with strong plays from Nisperos, including a cross-court attack and service ace, to establish another seven-point cushion, 18-11. Despite a brief rally from UE, Ateneo remained composed and kept their advantage, 19-13.

Jennifer Delos Santos and Nisperos led the charge in the second frame, providing the offensive spark that kept the Blue Eagles in command. As the Blue and White continued to build momentum, Robielle Silla sealed the set with a forceful kill off an overpass, putting Ateneo up 2-0 with a 25-17 victory.

Looking to close out with a sweep, Ateneo maintained composure despite an early back-and-forth affair in the third set, 5-5. Although UE gained a momentary advantage off a service error from the Blue Eagles that put UE ahead, 6-7, Ateneo retaliated with quick attacks from Jihan Chuatico and Miner to take a 9-7 lead.

Later in the set, UE made sure to keep things close after back-to-back blocks from Nogales forced a deadlock at 19-all. However, an out-of-bounds attack from Cepada broke UE’s five-point run, allowing the Katipunan-based squad to regain control, 20-19.

With the game on the line, Tsunashima stepped up to deliver a powerful attack, followed by a Sophia Buena kill off an overpass, to give Ateneo a crucial 23-20 lead. Despite two consecutive errors from the Blue Eagles, Tsunashima unleashed a clinical cross-court shot, securing the set and the match for Ateneo, 25-22.

As the Blue Eagles aim to close their preseason campaign on a high note, the AWVT is set to face the National Collegiate Athletic Association three-peat champions De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in the battle for fifth next Sunday, November 16, at 6:00 PM in the same venue.

Box scores:

Ateneo (3): Tsunashima – 11, De Guzman – 10, Nisperos – 7, Miner, – 7, Delos Santos – 6, Buena – 6, Chuatico – 4, Silla – 4, Fujimoto – 3, Cortez – 2, Montoro – 1, Sulit – 1 

UE (0): Dongallo – 10, Cepada – 7, Gajero – 7, Nogales – 5, Castillo – 4, Madriaga – 2, Ecalla – 1, Fernandez – 1, Zamudio – 1, Mpata – 1