For most UAAP teams, the Season 80 Women’s Volleyball Tournament has been a wild roller coaster ride filled sudden ups and downs.
But the defending champions De La Salle University Lady Spikers seem to be getting into form.
After going 4-2 through their first six games with a pair of disappointing losses, the spikers from Taft have racked up three straight wins which includes impressive triumphs over the Ateneo Lady Eagles, the NU Lady Bulldogs, and a sweep of the UP Lady Maroons Wednesday afternoon.
After calling out his squad for their “pambarangay” effort three weeks ago, La Salle head coach Ramil De Jesus appears to be content with his squad’s recent play.
“Well, magandang sign sa team kasi papatapos yung second round, or start ng second round, maganda ‘yung kinikilos ng team, so magandang sign para sa team,” De Jesus thought.
“Isa sa mga target namin ay mag one or two [seed]. Medyo maganda ang position namin ngayon so hopefully magtuloy-tuloy.”
Graduating opposite hitter Kianna Dy has been a huge part of the three-peat seeking Lady Spikers’ resurgence. She feels that La Salle still has ways to go with their killer instinct.
“Siguro there are times na kulang pa (killer instinct) because there are times na malaki ‘yung lamang, hahabol ‘yung mga lumalaban, so that’s one thing we’re working on palang,” said Dy, who has been averaging a team-high 16.3 points over their last three matches.
“It’s a work-in-progress.”
Still, the Lady Spikers still have heavy hitters left in their second round schedule, with the FEU Lady Tamaraws coming up on Sunday.
“Well, siguro, ang FEU kasi, alam natin maganda ang blocking, ayos din ‘yung service receive. Lahat halos ng players veteran, so depende na lang sa magiging outcome ng laro sa Sunday kung sino maka-receive, ‘yun ang magiging advantage,” De Jesus closed.
