The De La Salle University Lady Shuttlers continued their dominant ways as they cornered the University of the East Lady Warriors en route to a 5-0 victory. The Taft-based team cements their position as the number two team in the tournament, with the possibility of hurdling a thrice-to-beat disadvantage against UP which currently totes an immaculate record.
Lady Shuttler Mariya Sevilla opened the festivities with a 22-20, 21-10 against UE’s Lyra Rosal. The Lady Warrior had a good start, racing to a 4-0 lead early in the first set but could not capitalize as Sevilla first reached the 20-point mark. After a successful attack by Rodal, a flurry of smashes led to a 22-20 win by Sevilla. For the succeeding set, Sevilla mounted a large lead early, 8-3 then ballooned to 15-6 and closed the set by amassing a 21-10 victory.
Lady Warrior Heidi Rosal failed to tie the match as she succumbed to a 21-11, 21-11 defeat against DLSU’s Nicole Albo. Albo’s gameplan of pressuring Rodal’s reception proved successful as she built a 15-6 lead early in the first set that resulted to the 21-11 victory for DLSU. Albo mirrored her first set game as she mustered another 21-11 win against Rodal, propelling the Lady Shuttlers to a comfortable 2-0 cushion.
DLSU then sealed its win in Kristelle Salatan and Alyssa Leonardo’s straight set victory against the Pamela Fernandez-Riella Dilla pair, 21-7, 21-12. On point attacks and kills by Salatan and Leonardo fazed the UE tandem in the first set, resulting to a 21-7 win for the Taft-based squad. The second set was also dominated by the Lady Shuttler tandem as they grabbed the set, 21-12.
Albo, fresh from a victory partnered with Aires Montilla to continue DLSU’s winning ways, 21-19, 21-15 in the second doubles match against Lyca and Heidi Rodal of UE. Arianne Rivera completed the sweep for the Taft-based squad as she pummeled Denise Labay, 21-12, 21-6. Lady Warrior Labay failed to solve the Rivera puzzle as she only even submitted a single-digit output in the second set.
DLSU head coach Owen Lopez hopes that UP will not win its game tomorrow to avoid the dreaded thrice-to-beat disadvantage. “Focus lang sa game. Kailangan naming maipanalo ung game against FEU bukas para maassure kami sa at least 2nd place,” Lopez added.
– Naomi Imbang –
