BACOLOD City – De La Salle University Lady Spikers showed its readiness for the upcoming collegiate season via a 25-15, 25-20, 29-31, 25-21 beating of F2 Logistics Cargo Movers on Sunday at the University of St. La Salle Gym here.
Negrense Angel Canino and Matet Espina and Ilongga Amie Provido were at the forefront of offense for the Lady Spikers, which aims to recover from a runner up finish in the UAAP Season 84 tournament early this year.
The Lady Spikers surged to an early advantage over the Cargo Movers before padding it to double-digits to easily take a 1-0 set lead in the contest.
It was ferocious in the second set behind Canino, Mereophe Sharma and Julia Coronel but the Cargo Movers showed some fight before eventually surrendering the set to DLSU.
DLSU looked determined to finish off the F2 Logistics in the third frame but the Cargo Movers drew strength from its veteran players, especially in the latter part of the set to stay alive.
The Lady Spikers, however, went for the kill in the fourth frame. It once again jumped to an early advantage before holding off the attempted response of the Cargo Movers in the endgame.
The Lady Spikers is the third UAAP-based volleyball team to have played in Bacolod City this year after the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles and University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses.
The Blue Eagles are reportedly to return to USLS Gym for the third time this year on December 19 as they battle Far Eastern University Tamaraws in another exhibition match.
The Cargo Movers, on the other hand, was the second Premier Volleyball League team to be invited in Bacolod City this year after Akari Power Chargers, which previously defeated Ateneo.
In the preliminary game, Abanse Negrense squad, composed of some former UAAP and NCAA players, prevailed over the University of St. La Salle-Bacolod Lady Stingers by winning two out of the three sets played./PN
