MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Ateneo Lady Eagles continue to show why they’re the league’s No. 1 team in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament. 

Ateneo completed an elimination sweep of last season’s semifinal tormentor Far Eastern University (FEU) with a straight-set demolition, 25-21, 25-10, 25-18, on Wednesday, April 3, at the Filoil Flying V Centre. 

The Lady Eagles soared to 9-1 and secured at least a playoff berth in the Final Four while FEU’s loss forged a three-way logjam with University of Santo Tomas and University of the Philippines at 6-4. 

Kat Tolentino and Ponggay Gaston tallied 11 points apiece to lead the Lady Eagles while Deanna Wong dished out 30 excellent sets in all 3 frames.

“Sinabi namin sa sarili namin, sa team, na expect FEU will give us a great fight, instinct sa kanila ang fighter because of their winning tradition. We have to level up our intensity and energy,” said Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro

(We told ourselves to expect FEU to give us a great fight because it’s their instinct to be a fighter because of their winning tradition. We have to level up our intensity and energy.)

FEU had a poor game as Jerrili Malabanan led the scoring with only 8 points while Celine Domingo, who averaged 11.9 points in the season before the game, didn’t contribute any against Ateneo.

The Lady Tamaraws committed a total of 27 errors to virtually gift the game to Ateneo.

It was a neck-and-neck battle early between last year’s semifinal rivals, but the Lady Eagles pulled away as Maddie Madayag sparked a 4-0 run to close out the opening frame. 

Ateneo had the upperhand in the 2nd set with a 14-2 start on the way to a 25-10 set drubbing that allowed them to cruise to 2-0 match advantage. 

FEU bounced back with a better showing in the 3rd set as they took an 8-5 lead over Ateneo in the first technical timeout.

But FEU blew its lead with 5 straight errors that fueled the Lady Eagles’ 10-2 run capped by back-to-back aces from Bea de Leon, 16-12.

The Lady Tamaraws couldn’t recover from there as the Lady Eagles cruised to seal the win. – Rappler.com