By: Ohmer Bautista
Playing without their starting setter Joyme Cagande due to injury, the youth-laden National University Lady Bulldogs pulled all the stops to score their first win in the UAAP Season 81 Women’s Volleyball tournament. They swept the University of the East Lady Red Warriors, 25-19, 25-23, 25-19, at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Despite missing the services of Cagande, NU’s offense remained on the high side, which can be attributed to converted setter Joni Chavez. Chavez shouldered the setting responsibility and finished with 14 excellent sets to propel NU to their first crack at the win column.
“Well of course, masaya kami. Hindi ko ma-express kasi alam naman natin ‘yung struggle ng team eh. Dito sa pagka-panalo namin, masaya kami sa nangyari,” NU head coach Norman Miguel beamed.
In spite of the sweep, it was a neck-and-neck affair in the early goings of the match as both teams exchanged a share of the lead in the first set. NU, though, stepped on the gas to secure the opening set. They then carried their momentum into the second set, as they raced to a 9-5 start. Although the Lady Warriors fought back and knotted the game at 23-all, an Ivy Lacsina kill and a Judith Abil costly error gave NU a 2-0 set advantage.
NU went on cruise control in the third set after inflating an early 7-5 lead into a seven-point advantage, 19-12. From that point onward, the upstart Lady Bulldogs closed out the game and formalized their first win of the season.
Lacsina led the way with 18 points off 14 spikes for the Lady Bulldogs, who out-spiked the Lady Red Warriors, 36-23. Roselyn Doria and Audrey Paran added 12 and 10 markers spiked by five and three blocks, respectively.
On the other hand, UE only had one player in double figures with Abil’s 10 markers.
The Lady Bulldogs look to build on this morale-boosting win as they take on defending champions De La Salle University Lady Spikers on Wednesday, February 27. On the other hand, UE seek a bounce-back win as they take on the Adamson University Lady Falcons, also on Wednesday. Both games will be held at the FilOil arena.
The Scores:
NU (3) – Lacsina 18, Doria 12, Paran 10, Robles 9, Chavez 4, Landicho 1, Luceno 1, Nierva (L).
UE (0) – Abil 10, Mendrez 8, Gabarda 5, Rodriguez 5, Baliton 2, Olarve 1, Calavano 0, Bendong 0, Arado (L), Babol (L).
