NATIONAL University stayed alive in the race for the top two places with a 25-22, 25-16, 25-15 win, sending Ateneo on the verge of elimination in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
It was another day in the office for Alyssa Solomon who had a game-best 23 points on 19 attacks and four aces, doing so on a 68 percent attacking efficiency.
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"Sabi nga po ni Bella (Belen), we can't afford to lose na in the games so as a team captain, mentally I have to be prepared (as well as) the team. Talagang sa training pa lang, mentally pinu-push ko na sila, hindi naman in a negative way but in an encouraging way.
"This season, everyone is stepping up so labanan talaga ng system and ng mental toughness so crucial talaga sa'min kung paano kami titibay and 'yung puso namin sa game," said NU captain Erin Pangilinan.
Quick a match as it was in NU's favor, MVP frontrunner Bella Belen had her career-worst scoring output with just two points, five receptions, and nine digs. The ace spiker told reporters after the game that she was dealing with menstrual-induced back pain but refused to use it as an excuse for her diminished attacking returns.
Vange Alinsug fired 15 markers to lead NU's ninth win, with Shaira Jardio posting 12 receptions and nine digs and Lams Lamina converting 15 excellent sets.
Even without Belen's regular scoring production, NU landed 43 total attacks on top of six service aces which proved to be its cutting edge over a troubled Ateneo side that only had one in the one-and-a-half-hour contest.
No Blue Eagle finished in double figures scoring-wise as AC Miner's nine-piece and back-to-back eight-point outputs from Lyann De Guzman and Yvana Sulit paced Ateneo's second straight loss.
The Lady Bulldogs rose to 9-2 (win-loss) while the Blue Eagles’ Final Four hopes were left hanging on by a thread at 3-8.
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