NU Lady Bulldogs keep record clean with a sweep in the first round of UAAP
National University ended its first- round with a sweep for all-time best start after dismantling the struggling University of the Philippines Lady Maroons with a 25-10, 25-20, 25-15 victory in the UAAP Season 84 women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena Thursday.
Aces Mhicaela Belen and Princess Robles took over the reins as they combined for 25 points that lasted only 81 minutes with Robles adding 12 digs, good for the team’s fifth straight-sets victory.
Ivy Lacsina then added 11 markers on two aces for NU that balanced the offensive side, dealing the Lady Maroons their fourth loss in seven matches.
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“We needed this win to build momentum going into the second round for us to prepare for the tougher second round,” NU head coach Karl Dimaculangan said in Filipino.
“Our team is young but sweeping the first round motivates us more as we get ready for the next round. Other teams will make adjustments so we need to really be more prepared,” added Dimaculangan.
In their historic season, NU only dropped a set each against reigning champion Ateneo and runner-up Santo Tomas this season, the Lady Bulldogs wiped out the floor with La Salle, Adamson, Far Eastern University, University of the East and now UP.
Another team who is riding a win streak to end the first round is the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses who endured a match close to 2 ½ hours to snap Ateneo’s three-game win streak.
Eya Laure topped the scoreboard with 31 points to lead the Golden Tigresses to a 25-19, 25-21, 29-31, 33-31 victory.
“It’s good that my players went through that kind of a match—it’s like we played six sets,” Reyes said in Filipino.
“I loved seeing that their fighting spirit was there the entire time.”
Other Tigresses who helped the team’s cause are Hernandez, who put in half of her 14 points in the fourth set for UST, Galdones who had 12 points, including 3 blocks, and Tapia also added 11 points in the win.
Tags: #UAAP, #volleyball, #NU, #sports