Lady Bulldogs notch second straight win

MANILA, Philippines — Slowly but surely.

National U notched its second straight win to catch up on the league leaders after taming Adamson, 25-17, 25-20, 25-20, in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Lady Bulldogs needed only 82 minutes of play to take down the Lady Falcons for a roaring follow-up to their breakthrough win against Ateneo in five sets and tie idle and reigning champion La Salle at second spot with 2-1 slates.

Both squads, which took turns capturing the crowns in the last two seasons, bowed to unbeaten Santo Tomas in an early shake-up among top contenders heading into the halfway phase of the first round.

Alyssa Solomon hammered 17 points on 14 hits, two blocks and an ace while Bella Belen and Vange Alinsug produced 15 and 12 points, respectively, in a lethal troika for the Lady Bulldogs, who are out for redemption after surrendering the throne to the Lady Spikers in Season 85.

Sheena Toring added three points in her much-awaited return at the Big Dome, where she suffered a partial ACL tear in Game 1 of their finals rematch against La Salle. 

“We’re getting there slowly,” said NU coach Norman Miguel, whose wards were stunned in the opener by the Golden Tigresses in straight sets.

“Syempre, masaya kaming lahat. Nakakabawi-bawi na kahit paano. Hopefully, magtuloy-tuloy pa ‘yung magandang kundisyon at mindset namin.”

NU, which kept Adamson at bay with little to no resistance, also drew ample support from facilitators Lams Lamina with 17 sets as well as libero Shaira Mae Jardio with 16 receptions and nine digs.

May Ann Nuique and Antonette Adolfo had nine points each for the Lady Falcons, who tripped to 1-2 after a win against the University of the Philippines and an opening-day loss to La Salle.

In men’s volleyball, three-time champion NU and Ateneo forged a four-way tie at No. 2 with idle Santo Tomas and La Salle with similar 2-1 records behind unbeaten Far Eastern U (3-0).

Nico Almendras (23) and Jade Disquitado (21) led the way as NU drubbed Adamson, 25-19, 25-27, 25-21, 25-18, with Ateneo sweeping UP, 25-19, 25-16, 25-23, behind Jian Matthew Salarzon’s 18 points.