UE Athletic Director Rod Roque says Lady Red Warriors’ star libero Kath Arado and hitter Me-ann Mendrez will try out for the women’s national volleyball pool next week.
Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. is seeking to expand its pool for four international tournaments this year, setting tryouts on January 24 and 25 at the Arellano University Law School Gym on Taft Avenue.
The Philippines will participate in the 3rd Asian Women’s U23 Women’s Volleyball Championship in Vietnam from July 13 to 21 and the 30th Southeast Asian Games hosted by the country from November 30 to December 10.
Mendrez was named 2nd Best Outside hitter in the Philippine Superliga Collegiate Grand Slam in December where UE finished with a bronze medal. She also played for Petro Gazz in the Premier Volleyball League.
Arado, the reigning UAAP Best Digger and Receiver, tried out for the national team last year before deciding to focus on her studies, the Lady Red Warriors and her club team Generika-Ayala.
“Dito sa akin, No. 1 very very qualified si Kath Arado kasi siya lang yung nagdecline last year kasi yung studies niya tapos may Generika at may UE siya. Sabi niya, ‘Sir, hindi ko na kaya.’ So nagback out muna siya sa national team,” Roque shared.
“But this year tapos na yung Generika nila, last playing year niya sa UAAP. Sabi niya sa akin, ‘Sir ready na ko sa national team,’” he added. “So dadalhin ko siya (doon sa tryouts) tapos si Me-ann Mendrez.”
Roque, a representative of UAAP to the LVPI, will provide the details on the tryouts to the other UAAP schools when the league’s board meet on Tuesday and Wednesday at the National University campus.
“Sa akin pinadaan ni Mr. Ariel Paredes (LVPI Secretary General) and tamang tamang may UAAP board meeting kami so i-disseminate ko na sa kanila yung info na open ang try out for under 23,” Roque said.
Aside from the women’s national pool, Roque was asked to recommend three names for the men’s national team that he refused to share to the reporters.
“They consulted me about men’s national team. They asked my suggestions and recommendations kung sino ang hahawak ng national team’s men. So I gave three names,” he said.