BACOLOD City – Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles overcame a tough challenge from Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws for a 25-23, 16-25, 26-28, 25-18, 15-10 win in the exhibition game on Monday at the University of St. La Salle Gym here.
Veterans Faith Nisperos and Vanessa Gandler as well as second year hitter Lyann de Guzman showed their steadiness in the crucial stretch to clinch the win in the first of their two meetings in Negros Occidental.
The Blue Eagles and the Lady Tamaraws were engaged in a tight opening set before Ateneo got timely conversions in the end from Nisperos and Gandler to take a 1-0 set advantage.
The Lady Tamaraws rode on the exploits of Bacolodnon Ann Monares in the second set as they jumped to a quick double-digit advantage over the Blue Eagles to tie the set score at 1-1.
The Lady Tamaraws and the Blue Eagles were again involved in a close game in the third frame but the ladies from Morayta managed to get some clutch conversion to take a 2-1 set lead.
The Blue Eagles, however, bounced back in the fourth frame as they opened up a quick five-point lead, which they later padded up behind connections from Nisperos and De Guzman.
Ateneo banked on their experience in the fifth set as they cruised to an early seven-point edge.
FEU attempted to come close but the Blue Eagles had answers as they completed their come-from-behind win.
Nisperos, however, had an injury scare midway in the game as she suddenly buckled down on the floor but the third-year hitter managed to get up and finish the exhibition game.
This was the third time that Ateneo has played in the USLS Gym this year after losing to Premier Volleyball League squad Akari Power Chargers and winning over University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses.
In the preliminary game, Mary Melody Amaro had a solid game as the Abanse Negrense selection cruised to a 25-19, 25-19, 25-13 straight set win over University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos./PN
