After a suffering a major letdown two days prior, the De La Salle University Lady Spikers avoided another upset, quelling the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in five heated sets 25-14, 25-9, 22-25, 19-25, 15-7 in the UAAP Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
FEU kept pace with the DLSU early but struggled to get good passes as the set went along. Trailing by just one, 9-10, La Salle’s Kim Fajardo, Majoy Baron, and Ara Galang took turns giving FEU fits from the service line. When the dust settled, the Lady Spikers were ahead comfortably 22-11, taking the set with ease.
The second set had FEU unravel at an earlier stage. An 8-4 La Salle lead ballooned to 21-7 in almost an instant as FEU again struggled to get a good pass. Blocks and spikes from their wingers easily pushed La Salle to another set win.
The next two sets went horribly for the Lady Spikers. As FEU’s ball control settled in, La Salle’s net defense suddenly became porous. FEU torched the Lady Spikers for early leads in both frames and never looked back, dragging the match to a fifth frame.
When they needed it most, La Salle’s veteran composure shone in the deciding set. Through Ara Galang’s serving, La Salle built an 8-2 advantage. From there, graduating open hitter Cyd Demecillo scored five of La Salle’s seven points, securing the win.
“Yung first two sets, hindi talaga makareceive yung FEU. Noong nagkapasa na sila noong huling dalawang set, na-dominate na kami sa atake. Nawalan din kami ng block. Mabuti at naka-recover kami noong dulo,” said DLSU head coach Ramil De Jesus.
Kim Dy led a balanced La Salle score sheet with 14 points. Majoy Baron and Ara Galang had 13 markers apiece, while Cyd Demecillo had her best match of the season with 12 points and 12 digs.
Bernadeth Pons fired in a match-high 23 points, while sophomore Toni Basas and team captain Remy Palma pitched in 14 and 11 points, respectively.
Now at 6-2, the Lady Spikers face their most recent tormentors, the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses (4-4), again on Saturday, 4 p.m. at the FilOil Flying V Centre. Dropping to 4-4, FEU get a chance to recover against the University the East Lady Warriors (0-8) on Wednesday, 2 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores
DLSU (3) – Dy 14, Baron 13, Galang 13, Demecillo 12, Reyes 7, Fajardo 5, Cerveza 2, Luna 2, Ipac 2, Tiamzon 1, Soyud 0, Esperanza 0, Saga (L), Macandili (L)
FEU (2) – Pons 23, Basas 14, Palma 11, Guino-O 5, Malabanan 5, Dionela 2, Cayuna 0, Hernandez 0, Duremdes (L), Atienza (L)
