Defending champion Arellano University and College of St. Benilde downed their respective foes to join San Sebastian on top in the women’s division of the 91st NCAA volleyball comeptition at The Arena in San Juan City Wednesday.
The Lady Chiefs turned back the stubborn Perpetual Help Lady Altas, 25-17, 25-16, 21-25, 25-16, while the Lady Blazers routed the Lyceum Lady Pirates, 25-15, 25-19, 25-14, to forge a three-way logjam at No. 1 with the idle Lady Stags with 3-0 records.
CJ Rosario paced her team with 12 hits while Danna Henson and captain Rialen Sante contributed 11 each in helping Arellano deal Perpetual Help, the team the former dethroned last season, its second defeat against two triumphs.
Arellano coach Obet Javier said though there is still room for improvement.
“We’re improving, that’s the most important thing,” said Javier.
Janine Navarro and Jeanette Panaga presided over St. Benilde’s attack while Djanel Welch Cheng did the rest–setting up her teamates, blocking and chipping in some spikes herself.
In men’s play, last year’s losing finalist St. Benilde trounced a fiesty Lyceum, 25-20, 17-25, 25-22, 25-20, to join defending champion Emilio Aguinaldo at No. 1 with pristine 3-0 records.
Johnvic de Guzman played like a man-possessed and unleashed match-high 21 hits, 17 came on kills, three on blocks and on a service ace, while Isaah Oneal Arda and Racmade Etrone added 14 and 11, respectively, to help seal it for the Blazers.