UST strikes gold as Rondina bags MVP, Laure nets Rookie of the Year

MANILA, Philippines – UST Golden Tigresses team captain Sisi Rondina is set to be named the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball MVP.

That’s not the only award headed home to España as super rookie Eya Laure is set to bag the Rookie of the Year plum.

Rondina, already a four-time beach volleyball MVP, averaged 17.7 points per game on a 33.38 spiking percentage to also win Best Scorer and Second Best Open Spiker, per report from ABS-CBN Sports.

Meanwhile, Laure – who won the Best Open Spiker award over her mentor – normed 16.4 points on a 35.9% clip, is poised to clinch the Rookie of the Year plum, making it a back-to-back feat for UST after Milena Alessandrini won last year.

UST’s finals opponent, the Ateneo Lady Eagles, won’t go empty-handed in the individual awards ranks as Kat Tolentino is set to take home the Best Opposite Spiker trophy. The graduating star averaged 14.2 points on 30.2% hit accuracy with 0.63 kill blocks per set. 

The Lady Eagles were usurped, however, in the blocking category after the NU Lady Bulldogs’ Roselyn Doria reportedly snagged the First Best Blocker award as Ateneo’s Maddie Madayag settled for second. 

This caused controversy online as #JusticeForMaddie trended on Twitter, with fans questioning the reported decision.

UE’s Kath Arado and Lai Bendong clinched the Best Libero and Best Setter awards, respectively,  while NU rookie Princess Robles aced the Best Server plum.

Official awarding will be held before Game 2 on Wednesday, May 15, at the Mall of Asia Arena, 4 days after the Ateneo-UST championship showdown kicks off on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum. – Rappler.com