With high expectations for the season, the revitalized University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons made short work of the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors in straight sets, 25-20, 25-13, 25-21 to start their UAAP women’s volleyball campaign in a jam packed FilOil Flying V Centre, Sunday afternoon.
Both teams played a tight first set as they hammered at each other early on. It wasn’t long before rookies Diana Carlos and Isa Molde, as well as veteran Nicole Tiamzon, carried the Lady Maroons for a slim 16-13 lead. Afterwards, Kathy Bersola joined in the Lady Maroons’ offensive onslaught, overwhelming the young Lady Warriors, who have 10 rookies this season.
In the following set, the Lady Maroons continued what they started in the opening set as another rookie, Justine Dorog, and Marian Buitre took over swamping the Recto-based squad as the Lady Warriors struggled with their reception.
Holding a 15-11 lead in the third set, the Lady Warriors fought back through Juliet Calingdig, Mary Anne Mendez, and Roselle Baliton for a 18-17 disadvantage. Dorog rescued the Lady Maroons with back-to-back kills for a 20-17 lead. Timely attacks from Bersola and Buitre gave UP a commanding 24-19 advantage. The Lady Warriors managed to hold off defeat when Molde and Bersola committed attack errors to cut the UP lead at 24-21, but Dana Disquitado overcooked her serve to seal the Lady Maroons’ first victory.
“Ang dami namin errors mga 25 yata. Error prone pa rin kami of course rookie jitters pero kailangan natin mabago iyan dahil next game namin ay La Salle,” Lady Maroons Head Coach Jerry Yee said after the game.
“Masaya naman, we are trying to execute better, ang iba kasi matagal na magkakasama since their high school days” Yee said when asked about his team’s chemistry. He also added he liked how his rookies and veterans blended as a team during their off season tournaments which helped them in developing their chemistry.
Carlos scored nine points, all coming from attacks, to lead the Lady Maroons. Tiamzon and Dorog also had nine points apiece to pace the Lady Maroons’ offense. Third year setter Jewel Lai also tossed 27 excellent sets.
Second year player Shaya Adorador had seven markers to lead the Lady Warriors, while Judith Abil and Catindig combined for 10 points.
The Lady Maroons will next face the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers on February 7, 2pm at the PhilSports Arena, while the Lady Warriors’ next match is against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws the following day, 4 PM at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Scores:
UP (3) – Carlos 9, Tiamzon 9, Dorog 9, Bersola 7, Buitre 7, Molde 5, Lai 3, Gannaban 1, Alinas 1, Basarte 0,
Chopitea 0, Estranero (L)
UE (0) – Adorador 7, Abil 5, Catindig 5, Mendez 4, Baliton 4, Dacaymat 2, Domingo 2, Alcayde 2, Disquitado 1, Arado (L)
