Tuesday evening was momentous for National University.
Its straight-set win over De La Salle University in Game Two of the Finals didn’t just end a 65-year title drought for the Lady Bulldogs.
The championship victory also served as a testament to the success of NU’s high school volleyball program which has turned homegrown talents like Mhicaela Belen, Sheena Toring, Alyssa Solomon, and Camilla Lamina into household names in the collegiate ranks.
Like the rookies, the majority of the players on their championship roster previously suited up for the Lady Bullpups in the UAAP Girls’ Volleyball Tournament as well.
One of them is Jennifer Nierva who just concluded her third year of playing with the Lady Bulldogs. As one of the leaders of the team, she bared that they didn’t have a hard time convincing their rookies to stay in Jhocson amid the interest given to them by the other schools.
With the relationship that they’ve built since high school, Nierva always believed that her teammates share the same passion and desire to do more for the university.
“Na-feel ko po talaga na gusto din nila, kung ano po ‘yung vision namin for the school, kung ano po ung nakikita namin na kayang ma-achieve ng NU,” the newly-minted Best Libero of Season 84 claimed.
“Before po sila mag-step into college, talagang nakita ko po ‘yung commitment nila and loyalty nila, and most importantly, ‘yung love ‘yun po ‘yung nangibabaw sa kanila. ‘Yung love na meron po sila samin and ‘yung relationship na na-build namin together ‘nung high school.”
The Lady Bullpups successfully established a dynasty in the Girls’ Volleyball Tournament by winning four consecutive titles from Seasons 77 to 80.
After losing to De La Salle Zobel in the finals of Season 81, NSNU bounced back with a 14-0 sweep as the team bagged the crown once again in the following season.
Come Season 84, the Lady Bulldogs finally reaped the fruits of their labor as their homegrown talents all had a part in leading the team towards clinching their first title in 65 years.
Ivy Lacsina, who was part of NSNU’s four-peat championship team, shared that the winning culture that they established back in high school allowed them to adjust better to the collegiate ranks.
As a senior, the 22-year-old middle blocker is hoping that she was able to impart valuable lessons to her younger teammates that will help them sustain the winning tradition in the women’s division from now on.
“Siyempre po sobrang nakaka-proud po. Kasi parang sa high school po kasi namin, parang ‘yung sistema po namin doon is nadala po namin siya ngayon sa college,” she said. “And parang sobrang iba po kasi sa feeling kapag sa college po talaga.
“And ‘yun nga po, gusto din po namin na malaman ng mga bata na pag wala na po kaming mga seniors nila, meron po silang pwede i-share sa mga susunod na batch po ng womens po.”
Team captain Princess Robles also felt grateful for the commitment shown by their rookies as they played pivotal roles in their journey towards capturing the title this season.
Without the contribution of their young players, the Lady Bulldogs wouldn’t be where they are right now as they all hope to leave a legacy for National University in the years to come.
“Grabe sobrang proud kami na galing kaming NU Lady Bulldogs po,” she claimed.
“Super happy kami na nag-stay ‘yung iba samin, kasi ‘yun nga po sabi ni Sheena [Toring], wish talaga namin nung high school na kailangan pagdating ng college may magawa kami, may maiwan kami sa NU na hindi kami makakalimutan.”
And this batch of Lady Bulldogs is hoping that they inspire the next generation of Bullpups to grow with them.
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