Adamson University shrugged off a third-set slip against the University of the East to secure a 25-15, 25-18, 21-25, 25-18 bounce-back win in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.
The Lady Warriors built a 9-5 lead in the third set thanks to strong starts from Khy Cepada and Bea Zamudio, but Abby Segui, Frances Mordi, and Lana Barrera answered for the Lady Falcons with a 10-2 run, giving UE a 15-11 lead.
Adamson, however, allowed UE to come back from 13-17 down, committing five straight errors that tied the set at 18-all. Cepada, Zamudio, Van Bangayan, Eljane Nogueras, and Shania Olmoguez then carried the Lady Warriors to a 25-21 win, forcing a fourth set.
The Lady Falcons regained their composure in the fourth as Shaina Nitura entered the court earlier than in the third set, where she had come in at 18-all.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Very important win kasi ‘yung mga susunod na laban namin mabibigat na rin na schools so we needed this win kahit na nagkulang kami nung third set, regroup ulit at nakuha namin ‘yung panalo,” said Adamson head coach JP Yude after the one-hour, 45-minute match.
The Lady Falcons improved to 2-1, while the Lady Warriors remained winless in three games.
Nitura finished with 19 points on 19-of-35 spikes, alongside 13 excellent digs and 12 excellent receptions, helping Adamson dominate in spiking (52-37), blocking (12-3), and service (8-4).
“Ngayon talaga wini-work on namin ‘yung chemistry namin na mabuo plus ‘yung errors talagang nagha-highlight sa amin. We’re gonna go back to training and trabahuhing mabawasan or better hindi magkaerror sa simpleng baga,” said Nitura, as Adamson committed 32 errors, nine more than UE.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
After scoring just nine points combined in the first two sets, Nitura seemed on track for a UAAP career-low, but she extended her double-digit scoring streak in the third set as a substitute and added eight kills in the fourth.
Frances Mordi contributed 19 points, nine receptions, and seven digs, while middle blockers Eloi Dote and Lhouiz Tuddao added eight and seven points, respectively. Playmaker Fhei Sagaysay tallied 15 excellent sets along with 10 points on five aces, four attacks, and one block.
Adamson will aim for a second straight win on March 1 against Far Eastern University at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, while UE will try to end a 17-game slide next Saturday against University of Santo Tomas at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.
For the Lady Warriors, Zamudio led with 14 points, 13 digs, and nine receptions, while Cepada and Bangayan added 11 points each. Angge Reyes contributed 16 digs and 11 receptions.
