SUMMARY
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Ateneo staves off UE 2nd-set scare in sweep, ties Adamson for 4th
The defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles kept the UE Lady Warriors winless in 11 games off a 25-16, 25-22, 25-11 sweep.
Led by Vanie Gandler’s 14 points, including four straight to end the game, Ateneo rose to a 6-5 record for a fourth-place tie with Adamson, aptly right before the Eagles-Falcons showdown on Saturday, June 4, 6:30 pm.
(READ: Ateneo brushes off UE, sets up virtual 4th-place match vs Adamson)
Game results
Unbeaten NU continues quest for outright finals, downs Adamson in 4 sets for twice-to-beat
The undefeated NU Lady Bulldogs continued their rampage through the UAAP Season 84 competition as they outgunned the contending Adamson Lady Falcons in four sets, 25-20, 25-17, 13-25, 25-13.
Now holding an 11-0 record after a 20-point Alyssa Solomon outing, NU is just three wins away from clinching an outright finals berth as Adamson slid to a 6-5 slate while still holding fourth place.
(READ: NU continues quest for outright finals, downs Adamson for twice-to-beat perk)
La Salle asserts dominance with 17-point 4th set gap, takes solo 2nd over UST
The La Salle Lady Spikers left no doubt on which team deserved to be solo second place in the UAAP Season 84 after hammering the UST Golden Tigresses in a fourth set rout for the 25-23, 25-17, 22-25, 25-8 win.
Mars Alba steered the La Salle offense with 25 excellent sets as the Lady Spikers rose to 8-3 for the season. UST, meanwhile, rode its first losing streak of the season to a 7-4 slate, just one win ahead of fourth-ranked Adamson.
(READ: La Salle buries UST in 17-point, 4th-set gap for solo 2nd; UP stays alive)
UP buries FEU to keep Final Four hopes alive
The sixth-ranked UP Fighting Maroons made quick work of the listless FEU Lady Tamaraws, 25-10, 25-19, 25-7, to stay in the running for the Final Four.
Off Marianne Sotomil’s 18 excellent sets plus 4 points, UP rose to a 5-6 record for the season behind defending champion Ateneo (5-5), while FEU breached double-digit losses at 1-10.
Preview
Five teams remain in the hunt for a UAAP Season 84 women’s volleyball tournament Final Four spot, and action continues to intensify with the second round rapidly approaching its final game date.
The playoff-bound NU Lady Bulldogs continue their undefeated run with a historic 10-0 start, but an upset could be just right around the corner as teams continue to fight for pride, if not for post-season position.
UP (4-6) vs FEU (1-9)
The UP Fighting Maroons continue to search for their lost mojo since their 3-0 start as they next face the free-falling FEU Lady Tamaraws at the 10 am opening match.
Losers of six of their last seven games, the sixth-ranked Maroons need to fast-track their experimental rotations headed by Alyssa Bertolano and Jewel Encarnacion if they want to book the last few playoff tickets available.
Meanwhile, FEU’s season is a lost cause altogether, but the Lady Tamaraws will still try to salvage their first non-Final Four finish in eight years, and veer away from the controversial exit of team star Lycha Ebon.
UST (7-3) vs La Salle (7-3)
In another highly anticipated battle for solo second place, the UST Golden Tigresses shoot for a sweep of the La Salle Lady Spikers at 12:30 pm.
Although they own a win over La Salle after a classic five-set heist in the first round, the Tigresses are feeling a little exposed after MVP candidate Eya Laure got checked in their last game, and almost no help came as Ateneo went for the statement sweep.
Look for the fresh-cut trio of Leiah Malaluan, Thea Gagate, and Jolina dela Cruz to strike while the iron is hot, and continue the Lady Spikers’ winning streak to three straight.
Adamson (6-4) vs NU (10-0)
The Adamson Lady Falcons have a golden opportunity to prove they are real contenders if they can hand the elite NU Lady Bulldogs their first loss at 4:30 pm.
Despite a daring mid-season shift to libero for Lucille Almonte, one of the team’s top scorers, head coach Lerma Giron has made it work with a great offensive group led by Trisha Genesis, and backed up by May Ann Nuique and Kate Santiago.
Meanwhile, all NU needs to do at this point is not let its guard down amid multiple blowout wins. Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Ivy Lacsina, Camille Lamina, and Jen Nierva have proven themselves to be a playoff-ready core since the first round ended.
UE (0-10) vs Ateneo (5-5)
Better late than never, as they always say, and the fifth-ranked defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles look to fan the flames of their winning momentum against the winless UE Lady Warriors at the 6:30 pm main event.
Faith Nisperos and Vanie Gandler have emerged as the sure 1-2 punch for head coach Oliver Almadro, while Erika Raagas, Joan Narit, and AC Miner have been steadily proving their worth game after game, especially in their last statement sweep of UST.
Meanwhile, the Ja Lana-led UE is just looking for unsuspecting victims at this point with all playoff hopes gone, and a breakthrough win at the expense of the champs already running late to their Final Four bus schedule can prove to be a huge morale boost.
– Rappler.com
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