NATIONAL U picked up back-to-back wins to begin its title defense with a 25-23, 25-19, 25-15 rout of Ateneo in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
READ: Ateneo's wings clipped with Tsunashima, delos Santos injuries
Reigning finals MVP and best opposite spiker Alyssa Solomon made quick work of the ailing Blue Eagles with 12 points on 10 attacks, one block, and one ace.
The Lady Bulldogs are yet to lose a set thus far in their title defense.
Former UAAP best setter Lams Lamina played intermittently with just one full set under her belt yet still managed to orchestrate 14 excellent sets.
Junior winger Vange Alinsug had a steady 10-point, five-dig game while Bella Belen flexed her two-way mastery with nine points, seven receptions and five digs.
Struck with two season-ending injuries before the game, the Blue Eagles’ depleted morale was reflected in the match numbers where it had no blocks and no aces dampened further by 18 unforced errors.
Two of Katipunan’s young spikers in Zel Tsunashima (left shin) and J-Lo delos Santos (right ACL) will sit out the rest of the season as they begin their rehabilitation.
Stepping up to the plate were rookie spiker Alexa Montoro and newly-converted attacker AC Miner who paced the defeat with nine points apiece.
Whether Ateneo will be permitted to field reserves to hit the 14-player maximum roster remains uncertain.
Dodging the injury bug
For National U to maintain its strong run of form to the finish, avoiding the stroke of bad luck Ateneo was hit by will be imperative to keep its title defense on track.
Such unfortunate developments may be out of one’s control but NU head coach Sherwin Meneses is keeping his fingers crossed to be spared from such misfortunes at any point in their campaign.
“As of now, medyo okay (pa kami) pero siyempre mahaba yung UAAP eh, double round, so I think yung first round dapat ma-maintain yung fitness ng bawat isa,” Meneses said.
“Hopefully, less injury kasi napaka-importante ng mga games. I think 100 percent naman sila ngayong (simula ng season) pero sabi ko nga masyadong mahaba yung UAAP so talagang kailangan naming i-maintain ‘to talaga.”
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