The vibe has definitely changed for the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles compared to the start of the season.
Last season’s runners-up started the second round with a straight-sets win over the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws. Not content, they followed it up with a masterful sweep of the once-league leading National University Lady Bulldogs.
These were the two teams that beat them at the start of the season and caused them to plummet to an 0-2 record.
Now, Ateneo are at 6-3, and are tied with both the Lady Tamaraws and Lady Bulldogs for second place in the UAAP Season 80 Women’s Volleyball Standings. And no one is loving everything that is going on right now more than the Lady Eagles’ team captain, Maddie Madayag.
“It was definitely a big comeback.
“As you can see naman, ang ganda ng laro namin — we had receive, blocking and defense. Ang laking improvement from last round,” pointed out Madayag, who towed the Lady Eagles with a team-high 13 points against NU — six of which came off aces.
Beating their first-round showed how used to adjusting and constantly getting better the Lady Eagles are.
“It’s a huge boost to, not only our standings, but also our confidence that we’re able to get back at the teams that beat us in the first round,” added the 20-year-old, who is Saturday’s SMART Sports Player of the Day.
“It shows na kahit gaano ka nabugbog at the start, you can always give yourself a chance if you work hard enough.”
And Madayag and the Lady Eagles are hoping that the good times continue to roll as they enter the toughest stage of the tournament.
