Halfway through this year’s University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 Women’s Volleyball tournament, this weekly series navigates through the Blue Eagles as they aim to revive the glory days of Ateneo Volleyball.
THE ATENEO Women’s Volleyball Team (AWVT) reinserted themselves into Final Four discussions after improving to 4-5 with two of their best performances of the season. The Blue Eagles moved up a spot in the standings and now sit at sixth, one win behind the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons and University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses.
Riding the high off their previous five-set win against the University of the East Lady Warriors, Ateneo kicked off its second-round stint by outlasting UP in another potential game of the season candidate.
The Blue and White then made a statement with a commanding sweep over the Adamson (AdU) Lady Falcons to extend their winning streak to three.
Now, with five games remaining in the season’s preliminary round, the Blue Eagles look to bank on their newfound improvements to remain in contention for a playoff spot.
Photo by Miguel Abad
Ravi: In my previous takeaways, I discussed the AWVT’s lack of resistance on the defensive end. To my and perhaps the rest of the Ateneo faithful’s jubilation, the Blue Eagles have responded with major improvements in the second round.
Ateneo accumulated nine blocks against UP, a stark improvement from their previous games that saw them collect zero blocks at times. What is more impressive is how the Blue Eagles held down the fort on the floor amid their back-and-forth affair versus the Fighting Maroons. Facing multiple set-point and match-point deficits throughout the game, Ateneo pulled out all the necessary stops to force hard-fought extensions.
The final moments of the match saw UP crumble to errors after they failed to put the set to bed. The extra effort to anticipate attacks and save possessions during rallies allowed the Blue Eagles to prevail in a game ultimately decided by which team wanted it more.
Ateneo’s recalibrated defense was more evident in their triumph against Adamson. Libero Sarah Hugo spearheaded the impressive outcome, as she starred in the back-row after digging many of Shaina Nitura’s powerful spikes. While Nitura still notched 21 points for the Lady Falcons, Ateneo prevented the number one scorer in the league from reaching the 25-point mark, which several teams have failed to do.
Hugo’s seven digs were also instrumental in limiting the Lady Falcons’ offense, especially in the second set where the defensive specialist’s efforts helped Ateneo hold Adamson to only 14 points. With many questions about the consistency surrounding Ateneo’s liberos, Hugo’s ascension may be the answer to containing other explosive spikers around the league.
Aside from the libero, Miner also deserves credit for enduring the constant switch between playing middle blocker and opposite hitter throughout the season. The different roles have placed an added responsibility on Miner’s shoulders in both the frontline and backline. Additionally, the 5’9” co-skipper has also become a target of many opposing offenses, due to her unfamiliarity in the back row as a former blocking specialist.
Rather than just limiting herself to scoring, however, Miner has made strides in the digging department. Evidenced by her 1o digs against UP, the veteran is willing to do whatever it takes to win—even if that means stepping out of her comfort zone.
The co-captain’s sense of initiative and accountability provides an example her teammates can replicate as they enter a tight race to the postseason. After all, with Ateneo already being undermanned due to injuries, each Blue Eagle is being asked to spread their wings if they wish to challenge the league’s top powerhouses.
Call of duty
Photo by Miguel Abad
Laurence: Due to the AWVT’s injury-riddled start to the season, the fans of the Blue and White looked toward Lyann De Guzman to be the hero of the embattled unit. With key pieces Sobe Buena, Jennifer Delos Santos, and Zel Tsunashima being sidelined for the remainder of the season, leading the squad through adversity eventually becomes up to the Ateneo skipper.
De Guzman’s initial struggles at the start of the tournament manifested in her first two games, which saw her accumulate only 18 points—leading fans to wonder why the star was producing below her usual output. With Ateneo ending the first round at 2-5, De Guzman’s offensive consistency was needed more than ever to lead her rather inexperienced team by example.
However, as Ateneo continues to push through the second half of the season, the outside hitter has slowly turned it around and showcased why she was picked to lead this budding squad.
The ace spiker showcased her attacking arsenal against the Fighting Maroons by utilizing feints and drop balls to fool her blockers, resulting in a standout 23-point performance. In the Blue Eagles’ next game against the Lady Falcons, De Guzman was only behind Miner in team scoring with her 12 points, showcasing offensive finesse with her clever placement of spikes.
For Ateneo to secure a spot in the Final Four, De Guzman must continue her string of big performances to help the Katipunan-based squad. Besides De Guzman, fellow veteran Miner also plays a vital role in Ateneo’s offensive game this season.
Being the fourth-best spiker in the league as of writing, Miner has stepped up when De Guzman has struggled. With a combined total of 32 points in the second half of the season, Miner has utilized her athletic abilities to read blockers mid-spike. With Miner being a threat in every game, she has continued to be a formidable option for the Ateneo offense.
With the Blue Eagles’ uninspired start to this season, co-captains De Guzman and Miner have injected much-needed energy to tow the Blue and White back into competing at a high level. However, the duo and the rest of the team’s biggest test awaits amid their resurgence—a showdown with their Taft-based archrivals and a matchup against their España adversaries, which will serve as a barometer of their legitimacy as postseason hopefuls.
Upcoming games
Wednesday, April 2, at 1:00 PM, vs. the De La Salle Lady Spikers at the Smart Araneta Coliseum
Saturday, April 5, at 1:00 PM, vs. the UST Golden Tigresses at the Smart Araneta Coliseum
