Ateneo snaps losing skid with 3 set win over NU

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Ateneo Lady Eagles halted their two-game losing streak with an impressive and dominant 3-set victory over the National University Lady Bulldogs, 26-25, 25-17, 25-19, on Wednesday, March 9, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

After surviving a tight first set, the Lady Eagles dominated the second set in nearly every aspect and then outlasted the Lady Bulldogs in a competitive third set to come away with the win and sweep their season series against National U.

Ateneo, which beat NU in its season-opener, improved to a league-best 7-2 record. The Lady Bulldogs dropped to 4-5, currently out of the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball Final Four picture.

Alyssa Valdez displayed her athletic prowess and lethal scoring ability all game long to finish with 20 points – 14 from spikes, 5 from service aces, and a block. 

Jhoana Maraguinot also played well with 12 points, while Kassabdra Gequillana and Madeleine Madayag provided extra ammo with a combined 17 as their team bounced back from losses to La Salle and UP.

The Lady Eagles nearly blew a 24-21 lead in the first set after NU racked up 3 straight, capped off by a block point from Ivy Perez. But after tying the contest, the Lady Bulldogs sealed their own 0-1 deficit by committing consecutive errors.

In the second set, it was all Ateneo. It out-spiked NU, 10-7; had more block scores, 3-0; converted on more services, 5-2; and had just one less error, 7-8.

The Lady Bulldogs established a 3-point lead in the early goings of the third set, but the Lady Eagles rallied and tied the contest at 14. Valdez and company then took control from there and eventually sealed the game, 25-19.

NU, which was coming off a 3-set win against Adamson, was led by the 12 points of Jaja Santiago who was the team’s lone double-digit scorer. Jorelle Singh came close with 9 points, but no one else scored above 5 points.

The Lady Eagles had more points on spikes, 36-28; blocks, 6-5; and services, 13-6. Both teams gave the other 21 points through errors each.

Jia Morado had another outstanding game with 33 excellent sets, out-numbering NU’s 19. – Rappler.com