DEFENDING champion La Salle avenged its first loss of the season, ripping University of the Philippines, 27-25, 25-11, 25-17, on Sunday in the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
Majoy Baron scored 16 points, Des Cheng, Kim Dy and Ernestine Tiamzon added 11 markers apiece for the Lady Spikers, who scored their eighth win in 10 matches to move a step closer to the semifinals.
Ateneo has secured a spot in the Final Four with a 9-1 card.
The Maroons, who won their first-round match also in straight sets, now hold a 5-5 win-loss record, tied for fifth with Far Eastern University.
The Lady Spikers had 11 service aces against just one by UP in the one-hour and 19-minute match.
La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo said they simply were better prepared for UP this time.
“Kasi noong first round medyo nagulat lang sila sa laro ng UP, nagpadala sa ginagalaw ng UP na sobrang bilis tapos ‘yung ginagawa ng UP na ikot-ikot na distract sila sa ginagawa ng UP na parang na out of focus,” he said.
“Kaya sabi namin ’wag niyong intindihin ’yun talagang ’yun ang psy war nila sa atin so ’wag niyo lang pansinin,” he added.
La Salle has four elimination-round matches left, against University of the East (1-9), University of Santo Tomas (6-4), Adamson (0-10) and Ateneo (9-1).
“Hindi muna namin iniisip ang Final Four pero tinatarget talaga namin mag-top two, either one or two. Pero one at a time tatapusin muna namin ’tong eliminations,” he said.
Isa Molde and Diana Carlos combined for 23 points for UP.