Lady Eagles withstand Lady Falcons’ fight in UAAP volleyball

MANILA, Philippines—Ateneo withstood Adamson’s ferocious comeback for a 25-22, 25-19, 16-25, 18-25, 15-13 win Saturday in the UAAP season 76 women’s volleyball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.

Alyssa Valdez continued to be the Lady Eagles’ hero as she drilled in a crucial block on Lady Falcons’ Faye Guevarra that put them at match point in the nip-and-tuck fifth set and completed the fight back from 10-13.

Valdez, the league’s best scorer, drilled in 26 points, which included four blocks and three service aces for Ateneo, which nearly paid for its whopping 40 errors.

The Lady Eagles seemed well on their way to a seventh victory with a 2-0 set lead, but the Lady Falcons pounced on their miscues and forged a decider.

Adamson just needed two more points to wrap up the hard-fought match, but instead it yielded the next five points to Ateneo and fell to 5-6.

Sheila Pineda shone for the Lady Falcons, who despite the loss remained in fourth place, with 25 points inclduing 12 digs in a losing effort.