THE ATENEO Blue Eagles were denied a second win in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge Women’s Volleyball Tournament, falling short against the Colegio de San Juan Letran (CSJL) Lady Knights, 21-25, 17-25, 25-23, 25-23, 18-16. The match took place earlier today, September 6, at Paco Arena, Manila.
The Blue and White started the match with unwavering energy, spearheaded by veteran winger Zey Pacia’s statement attack from the left wing, 1-1. However, Ateneo plunged to a three-point deficit after back-to-back service and attack errors, 2-5.
Taking advantage of Ateneo’s faulty reception, Lady Knight Judiel Nitura drove the offensive hustle of the opposition, 2-6. With Nitura’s aggressive attack front, the Blue and White saw an influx of floor defense errors, further extending the deficit to five, 2-7.
Despite Letran’s impressive wing play, Pacia and Dona de Leon remain undeterred in cutting the scoring streak of the Lady Knights with their offensive hustles, 5-7. The Blue Eagles further found their attack rhythm after a Jihan Chuatico quick attack at 7-11. Alex Montoro and Pacia further amplified the Blue Eagles to bounce back into form, 10-13.
Challenged by the Blue Eagles’ composure, Nitura answered with a monster block, pressing on Ateneo’s blind spots at 17-10. However, with Pacia’s consistent attack front and Ateneo’s improving floor defense, attack opportunities for the Blue Eagles cut the score deficit to one, 18-19.
The final frames of the set were characterized by the equally aggressive slam downs from both teams. However, the Blue and White failed to attain comfortable leads in the set despite Pacia’s notable efforts. Consequently, Ateneo submitted to Letran following Nitura’s monster block, 21-25.
Failing to find their offensive rhythm, the Blue Eagles found themselves on the back foot early in the second frame, 1-4, allowing Leonilyn Padilla to masterfully execute a sturdy block and a strategic power tip. Despite a sloppy start, the Blue and White cut the deficit to one, 7-8, by feeding Chuatico and Ana Hermosura in the front row.
Ateneo suddenly found themselves chasing a six-point deficit, 9-15, after failing to contain Letran’s attackers who feasted in their 7-2 run. Even with Hermosura’s attempt to stop Ateneo’s bleeding with attacks of her own, 11-16, Letran orchestrated a 6-3 run by taking advantage of Ateneo’s dry floor defense, 14-22.
Mounting a comeback, Ateneo brought themselves within striking distance after scoring two points via a Letran error and Chucel Njigha’s drop ball, 16-22. However, Letran spoiled Ateneo’s comeback attempt as they secured set point, 16-24, after errors from Alana Tan-chi and Hermosura. Thea Selga’s block, 17-24, was not enough to turn the game around as the Lady Knights sealed the set following a receiving miscue on the Blue Eagles’ end, 17-25.
Fueled by their two-set disadvantage, the Blue Eagles re-entered the taraflex with renewed ardor. De Leon welcomed the first point for Ateneo with a statement block, which was then followed by Grydelle Matibag’s attack from the left wing, 2-1.
As CSJL’s Nitura maintained his composure and, which ignited the opposing Letran’s offense, Ateneo’s error-laden net defense was further challenged, 3-4.
The following frames of the set saw an attack showdown from the two teams, with Nitura dominating the attack front of Letran and De Leon showing no mercy from the Ateneo wall. The improved floor defense from Ateneo prompted their first lead in the match at 9-7. However, their short-lived advantage was cut after Chuatico’s attack error at 9-9.
Letran’s Vanessa Sarie remained headstrong amidst the pressure from the Blue Eagles. Notably, Ana Hermosura stepped up to respond to Sarie’s attacks at 13-15.
The back-end of the set witnessed error-plagued Lady Knights, 17-21. With De Leon’s timely blocks, the Blue Eagles ignited their formidable aura on the taraflex, 22-18. Sustaining this rhythm in the final sequences of the set, Ateneo powers through a long rally to clinch their first set of the match, 25-23.
Eager to force a fifth set, Hermosura stabilized the Katipunan-based squad with four points off three attacks and a block, 6-4. However, the momentum slowly shifted to the side of the Lady Knights as they handed Ateneo a 5-1 run charged by their relentless attacks on the Blue Eagles’ campfire, 7-9.
Despite Chuatico’s two quick points off a running attack and an ace to force a deadlock, 9-9, the prowess of Martin and Nitura electrified Letran’s 4-1 run, putting Ateneo in a 10-13 hole. Getting back on their feet, the Blue and White blitzed the Lady Knights with a 7-2 run with their pestering attacks and net presence that warranted them the lead, 17-15.
The latter part of the set went from pillar to post as both squads traded mini-runs, which forced another deadlock at 22. Pacia then delivered two quick hits to seize control and seal set point, 24-22.With her rocketing confidence, De Leon provided the finishing touch with an impeccable attack that stunned Letran’s defense, 25-23.
The 15-point stretch of the match opened with an offensive sequence ignited by the Letranites, 3-1. However, De Leon and Pacia’s heavy smashes from all ends of the court increased the Blue Eagles’ advantage to a three-point lead, 5-2.
With Ateneo’s floor defense lapses being exploited by the Lady Knights, CSJL increased their advantages on the scoreboard, 3-6.
In response, Ateneo assembled a 3-1 run with Chuatico’s running hit and Montoro’s ace, establishing a four-point lead, 11-7. Despite the Blue Eagles holding a seemingly sizable lead, the Lady Knights executed a momentum-shifting 5-0 blitz after three unforced errors from Ateneo, 11-12.
Undaunted with Letran’s massive run, fiery spikes for De Leon and Pacia pushed the Katipunan-based squad to match point, 14-13. With both teams not giving an inch, the game was extended as Sarie delivered for Letran with a smart attack, forcing a deuce at 14-all.
Finding sparkplug in their spikers, Ateneo would rely on Pacia’s spikes anew as she brought her squad to match point twice more, 15-14 and 16-15. However, the Blue Eagles eventually ran out of steam as the Lady Knights assembled a demoralizing 3-0 run, putting the game away after Chuatico’s attempt to force a deadlock sailed out of bounds, 16-18.
Keen to regain their winning touch, the Blue Eagles will face the Adamson University Lady Falcons tomorrow, September 7, at 12:00 PM, in the same venue.
Set scores:
Ateneo (2) – CSJL (3): 21-25, 17-25, 25-23, 25-23, 18-16
Current Standings (W/L)
- ADU Lady Falcons (6-0)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (4-1)
- DLS CSB Lady Blazers (3-2)
- UPHSD Lady Altas (2-3)
- CSJL Lady Knights (3-3)
- MU Lady Cardinals (1-5)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (1-4)
- AU Lady Chiefs (1-3)
