As the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Women’s Volleyball tournament has commenced, this weekly takeaways will assess the current state of the Ateneo Women’s Volleyball Team (AWVT) as they enter a critical stretch of the tournament.
THE FINAL Four race is no longer within reach for the Ateneo Women’s Volleyball Team (AWVT), but the Blue Eagles’ Season 88 journey is far from over with four matches still left on their schedule. Despite having no bearing, this last stretch can be maximized to further develop the Blue Eagle’s chemistry and address recurring issues heading into the next season.
The Blue Eagles were off to a formidable second-round start as they stunned the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses with a statement first-set victory. However, the Katipunan-based squad let go of this advantage, ultimately resulting in a 1-3 defeat.
Despite their eagerness to secure their first second-round victory, the Blue Eagles suffered back-to-back straight set losses at the hands of the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons and National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs.
While the Blue Eagles now sit outside of postseason contention, the Blue Eagles remain a dangerous spoiler with games still left to play. Moreso, these bouts could serve as learning curves that would bolster the Blue and White’s production in the following season.
Lethal libero
Diego: Although the Blue Eagles have had their fair share of struggles this season, second-year standout Fiona Arroyo has quietly anchored the Katipunan-based squad as their primary libero.
According to recent UAAP statistics, Arroyo currently stands as the third-best receiver in the league, posting a 45.50% reception efficiency. Additionally, she remains a consistent presence in the top 10 for digs, ranking seventh overall while averaging 2.24 digs per set this season.
Her defensive presence proved crucial in sustaining rallies, especially in tightly contested stretches such as the Blue Eagles’ showdown with the Lady Falcons. Arroyo’s impact was on full display as she tallied eight excellent digs and 15 excellent receptions, providing Ateneo with the stability needed to reset and stay organized. During the nail-biting second set, she helped stunt the Lady Falcons’ runs to keep the Blue Eagles within reach. Although the frame ultimately ended in defeat for the Blue and White, it was those brief moments that showcased what the squad is capable of.
Her strong performance carried over as Ateneo faced the defending champion NU. Despite the challenges, Arroyo remained composed in the back row, collating nine excellent receptions out of 18 attempts for an efficient 50% outing. Her efforts allowed the Blue Eagles to keep pace with the Lady Bulldogs early on, keeping their offense in system and giving Ateneo the chance to trade points in extended rallies.
Two heavy matchups await the Blue Eagles this week as they are set to square off against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons and the undefeated De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers. With a steady and reliable presence on the floor in Arroyo, Ateneo remains well-positioned to capitalize on opportunities and push for much-needed victories.
Cracks in the armor
Ani: The Blue Eagles’ 1-9 record at this point in the season reflects a journey of adjustment, learning, and growing pains. As the team continues to find its rhythm, it has become more and more evident that defensive consistency is a key area for development, particularly at establishing a strong presence on the net.
In their first game of the second round against UST, the Blue Eagles tallied two total blocks in comparison to the Golden Tigresses’s ten. The preceding matchups proved to show similar results as Ateneo recorded three blocks against Adamson and two against NU. These numbers illustrate the Blue Eagles’ struggle to establish a strong presence on the net, an important aspect to any contending squad and an area that top teams in the UAAP quickly test.
While net defense proves to be a continued challenge for the Blue and White, it also highlights the level of competition in the UAAP and provides valuable lessons for growth for the entire team moving forward.
On the bright side, the Blue Eagles have also shown encouraging signs through their floor defense, highlighting the unit’s unwavering determination and effort. In their game against the Golden Tigresses, Ateneo showed an immense amount of grit, tallying 47 digs and minimizing a number of chances generated by UST’s Angge Poyos, one of the most effective players in the league. These defensive rallies showed the team’s ability to keep the ball alive and adapt in the face of adversity.
Still, against NU and Adamson, the Blue Eagles faced tougher pressure, recording only 22 and 31 digs, respectively. Although these were tough results for the team to absorb, it highlights the challenges of contending with formidable opponents and lay the groundwork for the team’s improvement in the closing stages of this season.
Looking ahead to their next matchups, the Blue Eagles must continue to work on being a threat on both sides of the court. With evident talent and ability, putting all the pieces together to find their rhythm can still make this team a serious threat in the closing stages of the season. Combining both perseverance and continued development, this team has everything needed to turn potential into results in the games ahead.
Building on momentum
Edge: In any sport, momentum is an unpredictable force that is capable of altering the trajectory of a team’s fate for better or worse. The ability to generate momentum-shifting plays, paired with the consistency to sustain them, is what separates the good from great.
Throughout the season, AWVT has shown flashes of brilliance, proving its capacity to challenge elite teams with explosive stretches of play. However, the Blue and White continue to be haunted by their inability to sustain momentum, which has been a magnified issue in their last three outings against the Golden Tigresses, Lady Falcons, and Lady Bulldogs.
The Blue Eagles opened the second round of eliminations on a high note, claiming the first set against the formidable Golden Tigresses, 25–21, powered by a fluid and efficient offense. Yet, the narrative quickly shifted in the second set as Ateneo failed to build on that early success and suffered a lopsided 11–25 defeat.
Despite dropping the third set, the Blue and White showed improved composure, pushing UST to the brink before ultimately falling, 22–25. With momentum seemingly within range, Ateneo had a decent chance of forcing a fifth set; Instead, they struggled to find their rhythm, leading to another underwhelming 12–25 finish.
A similar pattern unfolded in their matchup against the Lady Falcons. After a shaky opening set loss, 17–25, the Blue Eagles regrouped and delivered a spirited performance in the second, forcing a tight 24-all deadlock. They fought relentlessly but ultimately came up short, 25–27.
Hoping to extend the match, Ateneo attempted to translate that second-set intensity into the third. However, they were unable to seize control, allowing AdU to dictate the pace en route to a 16–25 loss and a straight-sets defeat.
The trend of struggling to sustain momentum persisted in their most recent outing against reigning champions NU, where Ateneo absorbed another sweep, 19–25, 16–25, 15–25. The set scores reflected their continued struggle to keep pace and assert control over the game’s rhythm.
Ultimately, Ateneo’s shortcomings do not stem from a lack of firepower but from its inability to consistently ignite and sustain momentum. If the Blue Eagles can solve this lingering issue, they have the potential to become a formidable threat for the rest of the season and beyond.
Upcoming games:
Wednesday, April 8, at 1:00 PM, vs. UP Fighting Maroons at the SM Mall of Asia Arena
Saturday, April 11, at 11:00 AM, vs. DLSU Lady Spikers at the Playtime Filoil Centre
Current Standings (W-L):
- DLSU Lady Spikers (10-0)
- NU Lady Bulldogs (8-3)
- UST Golden Tigresses (7-4)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (6-4)
- AdU Lady Falcons (6-5)
- UP Fighting Maroons (4-6)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (1-9)
- UE Lady Red Warriors (0-11)
