NATIONAL University looks to repeat against league-leader Ateneo and stay in the hunt for a Final Four berth in the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday at The Arena in San Juan.
Game time is at 4 p.m.
The Lady Bulldogs are currently in joint third place with University of Santo Tomas on 6-4 win-loss cards while the Lady Eagles have already secured the first semis seat with a 9-1 card.
Although NU handed Ateneo its lone loss of the season so far with a 25-17, 25-13, 19-25, 29-27 win in the first round, coach Roger Gorayeb knows that it will be a different story in the rematch.
The Lady Eagles have won eight straight games since the loss to NU while the Lady Bulldogs are still searching for consistency at this late stage of the season.
The Lady Bulldogs kicked off the season with run of three wins, but a straight-set loss to defending champion La Salle sent the team stumbling.
“Kailangan namin paghandaan,” said Gorayeb. “Kasi nung first round sila, ang second game namin after naming matalo sa La Salle, biglang nag-dive na. Hirap na hirap kami rumecover sa tatlong sunod-sunod na talo. Doon kami nadisgrasya.”
Meanwhile, University of the Philippines hopes to sustain a resurgence when it collides with also ran Adamson in the opening game on Wednesday.
The Lady Maroons are raring to get back up after losing five of their last six games from a 4-0 start in the tournament.
UP currently is in fifth spot with an even 5-5 card - the same record as Far Eastern University.