DEFENDING champion La Salle routed National University, 25-20, 25-18, 25-10, on Wednesday to keep a share of second place in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.
Desiree Cheng had 17 points on 14 attacks, two service aces and a block as the Lady Spikers got back to their winning ways after bowing in straight sets to University of the Philippines on Sunday.
The Lady Spikers improved its win-loss record to 6-3, tied with University of Sto. Tomas at second behind idle leader Ateneo, which holds a 7-1 record.
NU remained in seventh place with a 2-7 card.
Tin Tiamzon delivered seven kills, a pair of blocks and as many as aces for 11 points. Lourdes Clemente bounced back from her lethargic performance last game hitting five blocks for nine points, while rookie Jolina Dela Cruz added seven markers on top of eight excellent receptions and six digs.
La Salle head coach Ramil de Jesus was happy that his wards showed their strengths and heeded his call to bounce back as the Lady Spikers improved with a 6-3 win-loss record sharing the hold of second place before clashing on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
“Last Sunday kasi, yun ang pinakamabigat na loss namin. Today sabi ko sa kanila na wag yung isipin. Wag niyo isipin na mahina yung team sa bawat composition ng team, iba yung strength nung team last year,” De Jesus said. “Kailangan natin maniwala sa team natin, maniwala sa sarili natin. Hindi kalaban ang magpapanalo sa atin, tayo ang gumalaw, tayo ang maghirap para manalo tayo.”
Unlike their 37 errors and 17 service faults in their loss to UP last Sunday, La Salle was on target hitting eight service aces and only committed four errors from the service line in their 10 total miscues in the match compared to NU, which gave up 24 errors.
“Compared ng Sunday, better naman today, marami kaming aces today. Winork on namin yun. Mas maganda yung range nila ngayon, tumatama sa target,” De Jesus said.
NU captain Roselyn Doria was the lone Lady Bulldog to score in double figures with 11 points as her team dropped to 2-7 reeling at seventh place before facing Adamson (1-8) also on Sunday.
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