De La Salle Lipa emerged victorious in the inaugural Fletcher League — a one-day high school girls volleyball tournament for schools under the De La Salle system — held Wednesday at the Playtime FilOil Centre.
The Green Stallions capped off an inspired campaign with a convincing 25-18, 25-21 win over De La Salle-Zobel in the Final, showcasing the depth and rising talent of the La Salle Lipa program, which also represented CALABARZON in this year’s Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Norte.
The Fletcher League brought together six La Salle institutions — Lipa, Zobel, Manila, Laguna, Green Hills, and the Medical and Health Sciences Institute (DLSMHSI) — for a full day of spirited competition aimed not only at fostering excellence but also at giving student-athletes more meaningful game experience.
“This league is all about creating more opportunities for our La Salle teams to grow through playing with each other,” said Claudia Cojuangco, Fletcher League founder and current manager of the De La Salle University Women’s Volleyball Team. “We want to build a tradition that celebrates our athletes and helps strengthen volleyball across all our La Salle campuses.”
The Junior Lady Spikers of De La Salle-Zobel topped Pool B after scoring wins over DLSMHSI and La Salle Green Hills, before advancing to the championship match. De La Salle-Manila secured third place following a tightly contested three-set battle against DLSMHSI, 25-9, 22-25, 25-19.
De La Salle Lipa’s Althea Sumague shone brightest throughout the tournament and was deservedly named Star MVP for her dominant all-around performance and leadership on the court. Her teammate Arianne Kiel Olbes anchored Lipa’s defense with consistency and poise, earning her the Best Libero award.
De La Salle-Zobel also had a trio of standouts: Kylie Celada was recognized as Best 1st Outside Hitter for her reliable attacking, Azalia Araxo earned Best 2nd Middle Blocker honors for her net presence, and Aislinn Alemaña took home the Best Opposite Hitter award thanks to her scoring and versatility.
Meanwhile, De La Salle-Manila’s efforts were highlighted by Mikee Santos, who was named Best 2nd Outside Hitter, and Eshena Rose Nunag, who ran the offense masterfully as the Best Setter of the tournament. DLSMHSI’s Estela Dabu rounded out the list of individual winners, claiming the Best 1st Middle Blocker award for her impact in the front row.
The day also saw the presence of several Lady Spikers alumni from various La Salle high schools, symbolizing the legacy, camaraderie, and continued support within the La Sallian volleyball community.
Co-organized by Thought Lab and Grid Athletic in partnership with the participating De La Salle schools, the Fletcher League is envisioned to be a recurring platform that combines friendly competition, long-term program development, and fundraising efforts for student-athletes.
