Valdez scores 20 as Ateneo breezes past UE

FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Alyssa Valdez effortlessly scored 20 as Ateneo breezed past University of the East, 25-17, 25-12, 25-22, Saturday in the UAAP season 76 women’s volleyball tournament.

Valdez, the league’s leading scorer, put on a clinic from the service area early in the second set, scoring on five service winners to carry the Lady Eagles to a much needed win.

Ateneo clinched at least a playoff for the No. 4 spot, raising its record to 8-4 with two games left in the elimination round.

But the Lady Eagles had to buck poor reception in the third set as they allowed the winless UE to pull within one, 22-23, before Valdez helped finish off the Lady Warriors.

“We had a lot of adjustments coming into the game. Fortunately we made it work and we were able to score. Our team worked help us every rotation,” Valdez said.

UE never led but managed to stay in the game in the first and third sets, pouncing on the errors of Ateneo, which committed 29.

But the lack of firepower eventually caught up as only four Lady Warriors contributed in scoring and churned out just two more than what Valdez managed.

Shaya Adorador finished with 11 points for UE, which lost its 29th straight match.