MANILA – Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles made its two in a row in the UAAP Season 84 women’s volleyball via a 25-23, 25-18, 25-18 sweep of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Saturday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Faith Nisperos spearheaded the offense with 16 points, on 14 attacks and two blocks, along with seven excellent receptions as the Lady Eagles improved to 2-3 win-loss slate.
Vanessa Gandler added 12 points, all of which came from attacks, laced with four excellent digs, while Ilongga Roma Mae Doromal had 10 excellent digs and eight excellent receptions for Ateneo.
Ateneo figured in a tight encounter with UP in the opening set but managed to seal the 1-0 advantage before pulling away late in the second set to send the Fighting Maroons to the brink.
Holding to six-point lead at the latter part of the third set, Nisperos converted an off-the-block attack to put the Blue Eagles at match point at 24-18.
Jewel Encarnacion kept the Fighting Maroons alive with an attack point but teammate Alyssa Bertolano committed UP’s 13th service error which sealed the win for Ateneo.
“We might have a slow start but I hope we gained momentum in this game going to our next game so malaking bagay sa amin and I’m so happy sa intensity na pinakita ng players ko and with their confidence today,” said Ateneo head coach Oliver Almandro.
Encarnacion tallied 13 points and five excellent receptions while Bertolano had 12 points as the Fighting Maroons suffered its second straight loss to drop to 3-2.
De La Salle University Lady Spikers (3-2), meanwhile, ended its two-game skid after sweeping the winless University of the East Lady Warriors (0-5), 25-15, 25-14, 25-15.
Alleiah Malaluan top-scored for the Lady Spikers with 14 points off 11 attacks, two aces, and a block, while Mereophe Sharma and Jolina Dela Cruz added 10 points each
In other results, National University Lady Bulldogs (5-0) walloped University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses (3-2), 25-21, 25-21, 21-25, 25-15, while Adamson University Lady Falcons (3-2) edged Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws (1-4), 22-25, 25-9, 25-18, 25-18./PN
