National University-Monolith’s promising start fell short after succumbing to reigning Japan V.League champion NEC in straight sets, 24-26, 13-25, 18-25, in Pool B of the 2024 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship on Tuesday at Chathai Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
The Sky Risers concluded their pool play run with a 1-2 card ahead of the crossover quarterfinals set to begin on Thursday.
Thanks to a crucial 6-1 blitz, where four points came from Alyssa Solomon, the Sky Risers turned a 18-23 deficit to a 24-all deadlock.
However, these efforts were not enough as a crosscourt hit by Yukiko Wada and a quick attack from Haruyo Shimamura allowed the Red Rockets to escape NU-Monolith in the opening set.
The Sky Risers ran out of steam in the second set as NEC never turned back, turning an 8-all deadlock to a 22-12 advantage.
A down-the-line hit by Vange Alinsug and a Bella Belen backrow attack cut the Red Rockets’ lead to six, 18-24, but a crosscourt kill by Wada completed NEC’s sweep en route to clinching the top seed in Pool B.
Pending the results of today’s Pool A matches, NU-Monolith could possibly face Kuala Lumpur’s Kuanysh VC or Thailand-based club Nakhon Ratchasima in the crossover quarterfinals set to begin on Thursday.
