NU spikers keep mastery of Ateneo counterparts

MANILA, Philippines — Defending champion National U clobbered Ateneo, 25-23, 25-19, 25-15, and zoomed to the top of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball yesterday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The Lady Bulldogs encountered a tough resistance in the first set but dominated the next two to post a second straight win for the early solo lead in the tourney.

NU has yet to yield a single set in a pristine campaign so far, having dismantled closest rival La Salle, 25-23, 25-21, 25-18, in only 90 minutes in the opening weekend.

Against Ateneo, a team they had beaten for seven straight matches since 2022 when they completed a sweet 16-0 sweep to end a 65-year title drought, the Lady Bulldogs needed only 79 minutes.

“It’s a total team effort pero hopefully, mag-improve pa sa mga next games namin,” said coach Sherwin Meneses, looking to weave his magic in the collegiate play as well while concurrently steering the ship for Creamline’s dynasty in the PVL.

A balanced attack indeed it was for the Jhocson spikers, with Alyssa Solomon, Season 86’s Finals MVP, taking the cudgels from reigning Season MVP Bella Belen this time around with 12 points on 10 hits.

Another seasoned spiker in Vange Alinsug backstopped Solomon with 10 points on eight hits laced by five digs as Belen scattered nine points, seven receptions and five digs.

NU nearly absorbed an upset in the first set as Ateneo, even without two key players due to injuries, refused to go down without a fight, striking to within 22-23 only for Alinsug to take over with back-to-back hammers.

That proved to be the last stand for the Blue Eagles, being left in the dust with early eight-point deficits in the next two sets to suffer a second straight loss.

Lyann de Guzman, AC Miner and Alexia Montoro scored nine apiece as Ateneo, sans Geezel Tsunashima (broken left shin) and JLo delos Santos (torn left ACL), stayed winless after a debut meltdown against Adamson 25-21, 25-20, 12-25, 15-25, 12-15.

In the men’s division, four-peat champion National U (2-0) staved off Ateneo (1-1), 23-25, 26-24, 27-25, 29-27. It’s the Bulldogs’ 10th straight win over the Blue Eagles since 2018, behind a potent offense led by Leo Ordiales’ 14 points.