Lady Eagles buck third-set surge from Lady Maroons to bag win

FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo bucked a third-set surge from University of the Philippines to secure a 25-15, 25-14, 26-24 win Wednesday in the UAAP season 76 women’s volleyball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Eagles were in cruise control of the match until late in the third set when the Lady Maroons cashed in on their errors and zoomed ahead, 24-23.

“I put in new players to test if it could work, but our game turned sour. We had a lot of errors that’s why UP was able to close in,” said deputy coach Parley Tupaz.

Ateneo, which is at third place with a 6-3 record, committed 27 errors compared to UP’s 13.

But the Lady Eagles won’t let UP stretch the match any further with three straight points, including a hit from Amy Ahomiro and an ace from Alyssa Valdez.

Valdez led the Lady Eagles with 19 points, Ahomiro added 14 including four service winners as they arrested a two-game slide in the second round of action.

They are coming off back-to-back three-straight setbacks in the hands of league-leading La Salle.

Ateneo anew played sans Thai mentor Anurson Bundit, who will return to the sidelines on the 30th from a long absence according to Tupaz.

UP, meanwhile, reeled to their eight defeat of the tournament with just a victory.

Angeli Araneta had eight points for the Lady Maroons, who were trumped by the Lady Eagles in the service aces department, 1-13.