MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball elimination round enters its final weekend with only one twice-to-beat Final Four spot left to clinch and a handful of final standings spots.

Although there is not much left to dispute for, a lot of pride is still on the line as each school claws its way to a winning season end.

La Salle (12-1) vs UE (1-12)

UAAP | WATCH:

La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo, Angel Canino, and the recovering Leiah Malaluan share their thoughts ahead of their top-seeded campaign in the Final Four.#UAAPSeason85 pic.twitter.com/f4gPAXKwU7

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | STATS:

Angel Canino, Jolina dela Cruz, and Leiah Malaluan lead La Salle’s easy win over UE!#UAAPSeason85 pic.twitter.com/B4B7YT9YTT

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | FINAL:

The mighty La Salle Lady Spikers (13-1) clinch their best elimination round record in nine years after blanking the UE Lady Warriors (1-13), 25-17, 25-20, 25-17!

La Salle enters the Final Four as the #1 seed and will face either Adamson or UST.#UAAPSeason85 pic.twitter.com/uHpRG6cxdd

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | END OF SET 2:

The returning Leiah Malaluan gets extra burn before the Final Four as La Salle takes a two-set lead over UE, 25-20!#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | END OF SET 1:

La Salle outguns UE, 25-17!#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

The mighty top-seeded La Salle Lady Spikers look to fortify the foundation of their title pursuit with a lopsided showdown around 3 pm against a UE Lady Warriors side fresh off just their first season win.

La Salle, firmly at first place with twice-to-beat advantage, will likely give its prospects and role players much-needed playing time before the playoffs. Look for the likes of Collegiate Press Corps Player of the Week Shevana Laput, Baby Jyne Soreno, and possibly Leiah Malaluan to get extra burn this game.

UE, meanwhile, will again play without a hint of pressure and push its future stars Van Bangayan and KC Cepada to show what they got against the league’s best defense.

NU (10-3) vs Ateneo (4-9)

UAAP | WATCH:

MVP Bella Belen and Best Setter Lams Lamina share their thoughts after needing a reverse sweep in 5 sets to drop Ateneo for twice-to-beat.#UAAPSeason85 pic.twitter.com/yERwi5S1bu

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | WATCH:

Ateneo veteran Vanie Gandler confirms she will move on the professional ranks, but has yet to decide on a team.

Co-captain Faith Nisperos on her future: “We’ll see.”#UAAPSeason85 pic.twitter.com/KLyVlUgvjS

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | WATCH:

Ateneo coach Oliver Almadro, outgoing captain Vanie Gandler, and star spiker Faith Nisperos share their assessments of their lost #UAAPSeason85 campaign. pic.twitter.com/UEiMIaGIDe

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | STATS:

NU’s one-two punch of Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon drop huge numbers in their reverse sweep of Ateneo to clinch twice-to-beat!

Vanie Gandler and Faith Nisperos drop 20 and 17 points, respectively, in what may be their final collegiate game.#UAAPSeason85 pic.twitter.com/5cOIRlkRru

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | WATCH:

One last fight?

Faith Nisperos, Vanie Gandler, Roma Doromal, and Joan Narit all huddle in front of the rest of Ateneo during the Song for Mary – a group usually reserved for players soon departing collegiate programs.#UAAPSeason85 pic.twitter.com/tGJKq5fC1W

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | FINAL:

The defending champion NU Lady Bulldogs (11-3) clinch twice-to-beat off a reverse sweep of the Ateneo Blue Eagles (4-10), 21-25, 28-30, 25-14, 25-13, 15-13!#UAAPSeason85 pic.twitter.com/orfJDwvisP

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | SET 5:

Miner with the runner! Timeout NU as it leads Ateneo, 14-13.#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | SET 5:

Belen goes crosscourt! Timeout Ateneo as NU leads, 13-12.#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | SET 5:

Miner quick, Nisperos blocks Solomon!

12-all.#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | SET 5:

Solomon check!

12-10, NU.#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | SET 5:

Fujimoto and Gandler drop some aces to help Ateneo tie up NU, 9-all!#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | SET 5:

Belen for the block-buster! NU takes TTO over Ateneo, 8-5!#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | SET 5:

Toring blocks Nisperos! NU goes on a 4-0 run to lead Ateneo, 6-3!#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | END OF SET 4:

NU now sees a reverse sweep incoming as it once again destroys Ateneo, 25-13!#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | SET 4:

NU makes a living out of block touch challenges and now leads Ateneo at the 2nd TTO, 16-10!#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | END OF SET 3:

NU finally wakes up with a 25-14 pummeling of Ateneo!

Eagles still lead, 2-1.#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | SET 3:

Three straight points from Belen!

NU comfortably takes 2nd TTO over Ateneo, 16-10.#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | END OF SET 2:

Narit solo block on Solomon!

Ateneo pushes NU to the losing brink with a 30-28 escape for the commanding two-set lead!#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | SET 2:

Nisperos and Robles trade hits! 28-all.#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | SET 2:

Solomon backrow goes long, Pangilinan quick attack! 27-all.#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | SET 2:

Nisperos off the block! 26-all.#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | SET 2:

Fujimoto overreach! NU responds with a 5-1 run to steal set point over Ateneo, 25-24!#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | SET 2:

Ateneo goes on a 6-0 run to lead NU, 22-19!#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | END OF SET 1:

Red-hot Ateneo rides an 8-1 run from the 2nd TTO to gets its upset bid going over NU, 25-21!#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | SET 1:

Timeout NU as Ateneo takes a 21-17 lead!#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

UAAP | SET 1:

Ateneo keeps it close as NU takes 2nd TTO, 16-15!#UAAPSeason85

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 29, 2023

The defending champion NU Lady Bulldogs look to secure a huge boost to their title defense campaign with a twice-to-beat clincher around 11 am against the sixth-ranked former powerhouse Ateneo Blue Eagles.

In its quest to avoid a complicated logjam with the other Final Four teams UST and Adamson, NU will lean on the full might of MVP Bella Belen, running mate Alyssa Solomon, and Best Libero Jen Nierva to clinch the Lady Bulldogs’ sixth straight win and twice-to-beat berth to end the elimination round.

Ateneo, on the other end, is hell-bent on avoiding a 4-10 record – its worst in 19 years dating back to Season 67 – with a huge upset as a parting shot to the defending champions. Expect the co-captain duo of Faith Nisperos and Vanie Gandler to give their all in what may very well be their final collegiate game.

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