St. Benilde upstages Lyceum, last NC volley slot

MANILA, Philippines - College of St. Benilde clobbered Lyceum, 25-18, 25-17, 25-17, yesterday to clinch the fourth and final slot in the second round of the 90th NCAA women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Team captain Jaenette Panaga and Jannine Navarro fired 12 hits apiece to help steer the Lady Blazers to their seventh win against two losses and into the next round alongside first round topnotcher Arellano University, Perpetual Help and San Sebastian.

St. Benilde also matched its first round effort last season when it also made it to the next phase before losing all its three assignments to finish fourth.

The Lady Blazers hope to do better this time.

“We hope to build something from this and use it in the next round where we hope to improve our finish last year,” said St. Benilde coach Michael Carino.

The Lady Pirates ended their campaign with a 3-6 (win-loss) mark.

In men’s play, St. Benilde likewise formalized its entry into the second round with a 25-18, 25-19, 24-26, 25-17 victory over Lyceum.