Ateneo, National U dispute UAAP volley lead

MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo and National University clash today in a duel of the leading teams in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Eagles, unbeaten in three starts, take on the Bulldogs at 3:30 p.m. with the latter looking for third straight win after an opening game loss.

UST and UP, meawhile, face off at 2 p.m. with both teams out to rebound from back-to-back setbacks.

The Lady Eagles, with skipper Dzi Gervacio and Alyssa Valdez on the firing end, are coming off a emphatic 25-13, 25-16, 25-17 victory over the Tigresses last Sunday.

NU, riding on its impressive performances by 6-foot-1 Dindin Santiago and Myla Pablo, is tied with defending champion La Salle and Adamson at second at 2-1.

For the Lady Bulldogs to continue to stop the Lady Eagles, Kuki Salibad must step up with her playmaking for the main hitters to get their game going.

Salibad is expected to fill for main setter Ivy Perez, who dislocated her left thumb in NU’s 25-13, 22-25, 25-14, 25-18 win over University of the East last Sunday.

In football, Ateneo kept the top spot as it nipped FEU, 1-0, at the Erechun field inside the Ateneo campus last Thursday.

 The two teams clashed in a tight defensive battle in the early going, but Ateneo’s Michael Mabanag scored on the 37th minute.

FEU’s main striker Jesus Melliza, who made four goals in their first three games, struggled all-throughout the 90-minute contest in the face of Ateneo’s tough defense.

Ateneo now holds 10 points on three wins and a draw while FEU dropped to 2-1-0.