NATIONAL University overcame a resurgent University of the Philippines, 25-21, 30-32, 25-17, 25-19, to start Round 2 of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball season on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Vange Alinsug (24 points and 12 receptions) and Bella Belen’s (21 points and 14 receptions) double act on both ends lifted NU to a bounce-back win after a tough five-set defeat to La Salle in its first-round finale.
The Lady Bulldogs rose to 6-2 (win-loss) and sent UP (1-7) crashing back to earth after its breakthrough win over University of the East last weekend.
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"Isa po sa mga naging realization namin nu’ng last game namin is dapat hindi kami titigil hangga’t hindi pa tapos ‘yung game. Kasi ang nangyari po last game is parang every other set, bumababa ‘yung laro namin," said Belen.
"Kanina nung parang lumalapit na sa’min ‘yung UP, parang nagkakaroon na ng doubts sa sarili kaya nag-sstart na lumabas ‘yung errors. So ‘yun, balik lang sa system and ‘yung trust lang sa team."
Unforced errors were the Lady Bulldogs' lone Achilles heel in their four-set victory over UP. A huge chunk of their 31 misfires came in an extended second frame which saw the Fighting Maroons take hold of a 32-30 set win -- the only set they took from the reigning runners-up.
NU had all grounds covered with a rock-solid offense, firing 71 attacks in just four sets, topped by an unassailable floor defense after posting 46 receptions and 46 digs.
Belen & Co.'s victory played spoiler to a historic night for Pling Baclay, who after converting seven blocks against University of the East, broke her own season-high tally with nine net rejections versus UP -- two from matching Maddie Madayag's 11-block single-game record set five years ago on this day for a once Oliver Almadro-led Ateneo side.
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