NATIONAL University needed to overcome Adamson University’s gritty challenge for a piece of the second spot in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament, 26-24, 25-16, 25-22, Wednesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Lady Bulldogs forced a three-way logjam at second with the Lady Falcons and University of Santo Tomas, all at 7-3.
Unlike in their first round encounter where Adamson dragged them into five sets, 25-22, 25-19, 25-27, 22-25, 15-10, NU made sure to finish the job as quickly as possible this time, earning the sweep in just one hour and 28 minutes.
“Pinaghandaan po kasi talaga namin yung game na ito and sinet namin yung goal namin na dapat ipanalo namin yung game na ito kasi kailangan na po naming manalo na eh, hindi na po namin kailangang matalo,” said reigning MVP Mhicaela Belen.
“Siguro po meron ding (extra motivation) kasi yun nga po dikit yung laban namin nung first round and kamuntikan pa po kaming matalo non so sinabi namin ngayon dapat yung win namin talagang maganda, talagang masasabi mong panalo po kami,” she added.
With NU ahead 23-19 late in the third, Kate Santiago drilled two straight hits before Louie Romero nailed an ace to pull the Lady Falcons within one, 22-23, but Belen scored a crosscourt kill and an off-the-block spike for the win.
Ahead by just a point in the second frame, 15-14, the Lady Bulldogs limited Adamson to just two points the rest of the way for the commanding 2-0 advantage.
Belen delivered 20 points and 11 excellent receptions while Alyssa Solomon and Vange Alinsug dropped 11 and 10 points, respectively.
NU libero Jen Nierva and Shaira Jardio also performed with the former tallying 12 receptions and 10 digs while the latter managed nine digs as well.
Lady Falcons scorers Trisha Tubu and Kate Santiago were held to just nine and six points, respectively.
Adamson looks to bounce back on Saturday against winless University of the East while NU eyes three straight on Sunday against Far Eastern University, both at Philsports Arena.
Watch the UAAP Season 85 Collegiate Volleyball Tournament on the UAAP Varsity Channel (Ch. 263 HD). Available on Prepaid Loads 300 & up (valid for 30 days).
You can also catch the games live on the SMART Livestream App. Download it here.
