La Salle rallies from 2 sets down, turns back Ateneo

LA SALLE fought back from two sets down to spoil Ateneo’s sweep bid, 26-28, 21-25, 25-13, 25-21, 15-13, and grab a share of the lead at the end of the first round of the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament yesterday at the jampacked Filoil Flying V Arena.
Ara Galang fired 18 points, 14 off attacks, to lead the defending champion Lady Archers in the thrilling five-set win that put them on top with the Lady Eagles at 6-1.

Also giving the Lady Archers a big lift in the closing sets were Mika Reyes, who had 12 spikes and four blocks for a 16-point outing, and Michelle Gumabao, who scored the game-clinching hit for a 12-point total.

As Ateneo struggled to close it out, the Lady Eagles absorbed another huge blow late in the fourth set when star player Fille Cainglet injured her ankle and sat out the rest of the game.

The Lady Archers, who came out with a 7-2 start in the fifth frame, extended their winning streak to six games while pinning on the Lady Eagles their first loss of the season.

Reigning MVP Abigail Maraño regained her bearing in the crucial stretch to finish with 10 points for the Lady Archers.

Earlier, National University downed University of the Philippines, 25-16, 25-15, 15-18, to secure the fourth spot (4-3).

In softball, NU wrapped up its first-round campaign with an 8-4 victory over La Salle to secure solo second at 4-2 yesterday at Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. Jasmine W. Payo