Lady Stags duo gets NCAA beach volley crown after 2nd try

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Photo by CELEST R. FLORES/INQUIRER.net

PUERTO GALERA, Philippines—After a second try, Gretchel Soltones and Czarina Berbano finally got a taste of the NCAA beach volleyball crown.

The formidable Lady Stags duo swept their way to the championship, but had to overcome a creative Arellano side in the knockout finals, 21-13, 19-21, 15-8, Saturday in White Beach court here.

“We had to adjust a lot on our defense because they always change their attacking style so we change our defense as well,” said Solotones of Arellano’s Angelica Legacion and Elaine Sagun.

After dropping the second set, San Sebastian built an early lead in the decisive and finished the Lady Chiefs off with a 6-2 run, which included the last two points from Soltones.

“The hard work, fatigue is worth it, finally we’re champions,” said the sophomore Soltones, who also went home with the Most Valuable Player Plum.

They were the same duo who came up short last year, but they admitted that it was an even bigger challenge wrapping it up in Puerto Galera.

“The sand here is so hard to play in, lulubog ka talaga,” Soltones said, who helped her squad rack up 12 wins in as many games.

The Lady Stags ended a five-year drought in beach volleyball and foiled the Lady Chiefs’ bid at a first championship in the tournament since joining the league.

Arellano, though, put on a valiant showing despite admittedly having little preparation for the tournament, especially in the second set.