MANILA – Arch-rivals De La Salle University Lady Spikers and Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles will have an early collision as they are pitted at each other in the opening weekend of UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball.
The Lady Spikers is set to begin its title-retention bid against the Lady Eagles at 4 p.m. on Feb. 17 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Serving as curtain-raiser are Adamson University Lady Falcons and University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses.
The Lady Spikers will have a different lineup in its quest for three straight championships with mainstays Kim Kianna Dy, Mary Joy Baron, and libero Dawn Macandili graduating.
Still returning for the Ramil de Jesus-mentored Lady Spikers this season were Ilongga Aduke Ogunsanya, May Luna, Michelle Cobb, Desiree Cheng, Ernestine Tiamzon, and the entry of transferees Michelle Morente and Lourdes Clemente.
The Lady Eagles, on the other hand, will still have Bea De Leon, Kat Tolentino, Julia Samonte, Madeleine Madayag, and Deanna Wong but will have a new mentor in Oliver Almadro.
Meanwhile, set to tangle in the season-opener on Feb. 16 at the San Juan Arena were pre-season favorites University of the Philippines Lady Maroons and University of the East Lady Warriors.
The Lady Maroons-Lady Warriors battle is to be followed by the match between last year’s runner-up Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws and National University Lady Bulldogs./PN
