National University-Monolith took down reigning Hong Kong Volleyball League champions Kwai Tsing in straight sets, 25-16, 25-21, 25-22, to kick off its classification phase in the 2024 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship on Friday at Chathai Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
With the win, the Sky Risers will now face Vietnam-based club Duc Giang in the battle for fifth place.
NU-Monolith started strong, maintaining a comfortable seven-point cushion to dominate the first set. The Sky Risers’ attacking prowess was evident, outscoring Kwai Tsing by 10 attacks (19-9) in the opener.
The second set was a back-and-forth affair, tied at 20-all.
(C) AVC
However, NU-Monolith mounted a crucial 5-1 run, highlighted by three attacks from reigning UAAP MVP Bella Belen, to take a two-set lead.
In the third set, Alexa Mata’s three consecutive attacks pushed the Sky Risers to a commanding seven-point lead and match point. Kwai Tsing’s Lam Shum responded with five straight hits, cutting the deficit to 22-24, but NU-Monolith held firm.
(C) AVC
Senior Alyssa Solomon sealed the victory with a decisive crosscourt kill, completing the Sky Risers’ sweep and handing Sherwin Meneses his second win as NU’s head coach.
Belen led the team with 16 points, while Solomon added 15, built on 14 attacks and an ace.
Arah Panique and Mata chipped in nine and eight points, respectively.
Shum paced Kwai Tsing with 13 points, eight of which came in the third set.
Kwai Tsing now falls to the battle for seventh place against Iran’s Saipa Tehran.
A win tomorrow would give the Philippines its best finish in the tournament in three years, while a loss would match Choco Mucho’s sixth-place finish in 2021.
