THE ATENEO Blue Eagles concluded their 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge Women’s Volleyball Tournament with a four-set loss against fellow mother-league contenders Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws, 25-22, 12-25, 17-25, 15-25. The match took place earlier today, September 10, at Paco Arena in the City of Manila.
Claiming court momentum from the get-go, the Blue Eagles showcased their attacking ability with KC Cortez activating her spikers, 2-1. While Faida Bakanke secured a drop ball point for FEU, 5-3, Loyola Heights continued to apply pressure with stifling offensive rhythm to maintain their lead, 6-3. Cortez showcased her playmaking prowess with a clutch set to Jihan Chuatico in the middle, calling the first technical timeout, 8-4.
Following the huddle, the Blue Eagles maintained their attacking efficiency from the middle, destabilizing the FEU floor defense, 12-8. Despite the Lady Tamaraws using the Ateneo wall to their advantage, 13-10, Chuatico dominated the center, allowing for another timeout called in Katipunan’s favor, 16-11.
The Morayta-based squad was unable to find their footing midway through the set, as attack errors widened the point-gap even further, 17-13. Gerzel Petallo contributed for FEU, locking in crucial drop balls to the Ateneo side, 18-15. After an emphatic quick attack from Cortez to Dona De Leon that bolstered the Ateneo offense, 19-16, Setter Taks Fujimoto and Alexia Montoro stepped into the court with Montoro immediately scoring from a block, 22-18. The Blue Eagles committed multiple errors en route to set point, 24-22, but the succeeding huddle proved effective as Montoro claimed the set with a drop shot, 25-22.
Eager to bounce back, the Lady Tamaraws took advantage of Ateneo’s errors to create their first lead in the match, 2-3. Although De Leon managed to keep the Ateneo offense alive with a quick attack, 3-3, the Blue Eagles quickly fell victim to errors on the floor, 4-8. Montoro and Chuatico managed to connect with Cortez for kills, 6-10, but FEU spikers Petallo and Alyzza Devosora created an eight-point margin with clever attacks, 16-8.
Moving forward, Fujimoto leaned on Montoro in attempts to mend the deficit created by FEU’s strengthened frontline, 11-19, however, the outside hitter was met by a fortified FEU wall, 12-21. The timeout called by Head Coach Sergio Veloso proved insufficient after another block against Montoro, 12-22. Soon after, a drop ball from the Lady Tamaraws leveled the game at one set apiece. 25-12.
The Blue Eagles found themselves at an early deficit to start the third set, until a cross-court attack from Nisperos powered through the FEU defense, 1-3. Grydelle Matibag and De Leon locked in for crucial attacks of their own in the effort to force a deadlock, 5-4. Both squads continued to exchange kills, 7-5, until De Leon finally found the breakthrough with an impressive ace, 7-7.
However, the Lady Tamaraws remained unfazed, as FEU enhanced their attacking variation to weaken the Ateneo floor defense midway through, 15-11. Kyle Pendon proved to be the star of the set, executing kills and aces for her team, 20-13. De Leon hustled with her own series of points from the center, 14-22, but FEU Middle Blocker Clarisse Loresco silenced Katipunan with two running attacks to bring her team to set point, 24-17. A service error from Ateneo eventually granted the Lady Tamaraws the set advantage, 25-17.
The Blue Eagles welcomed the last set with high spirits, with Cortez maximizing Nisperos and Matibag to prompt a timeout by FEU, 6-2. Refusing to extend the match, the Lady Tamaraws upped their attacking rhythm, successfully leveling the board, 6-6. From then on, coupled with errors from the Katipunan-based squad, the FEU frontline destabilized the Ateneo floor defense with speedy kills and service aces, 13-7.
Zey Pacia showcased her experience and composure, utilizing FEU blockers for off-the-block attacks, 9-16. Despite being supplemented by De Leon, the veteran’s efforts fell short after more attack errors from Ateneo, 14-23. An off-the-block point from Alana Tan-chi kept the Blue Eagles alive, 23-15, but another fatal Ateneo attack error brought the game to a close in FEU’s favor, 25-15.
Hungry to strengthen their mother-league bid next year, the young Blue Eagles look forward to the 2025 Shakey’s Super League Pre-season Unity Cup Competition, set to start on September 20.
Set scores:
Ateneo (1) – FEU (3): 25-22, 12-25, 17-25, 15-25
Current Standings (W/L)
- ADU Lady Falcons (7-0)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (5-1)
- DLS CSB Lady Blazers (4-2)
- AU Lady Chiefs (3-3)
- CSJL Lady Knights (3-4)
- UPHSD Lady Altas
- MU Lady Cardinals (1-6)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (1-6)
