La Salle Lady Spikers vs UST Tigresses. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
La Salle tries to get back at the team that spoiled what could have been an impressive first-round wrap up in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament Saturday.
Saying they are better prepared this time, the Lady Spikers aim to avenge their shock loss to University of Santo Tomas at 4 p.m. at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
“We doubled our preparation for this game,” said coach Ramil de Jesus as his Lady Spikers go for a seventh win to keep pace with idle leader Ateneo (7-2).
Bannered by Ara Galang, Kim Fajardo and Mika Reyes, the Lady Spikers could have closed the first round on a high after stunning the Lady Eagles in straight sets, snapping their rivals’ 24-game winning streak.
But the Tigresses made that celebration short-lived with a surprise sweep of the Lady Spikers at the end of the first round.
UST coach Emilio Reyes thinks the Tigresses can pull off a repeat behind young guns Cherry Rondina and EJ Laure.
“We’re very optimistic,” said Reyes. “We won the last time, so hopefully our players can bring that [same confidence].”
University of the Philippines targets a sixth win versus Adamson at 2 p.m.
The Lady Maroons shocked the Lady Eagles at the start of the second round, 19-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-22.