Lady Chiefs overcome odds, beat Lady Stags to win NCAA volley title

Arellano Lady Chiefs. Randolph B. Leongson/INQUIRER.net

Arellano University defied the odds and captured the NCAA Season 92 women’s volleyball championship, topping San Sebastian, 25-15, 22-25, 25-23, 25-16, Tuesday at Philsports Arena in Pasig.

It was a sweet victory for the Lady Chiefs, who overcame the Lady Stags’ thrice-to-beat advantage.

The triumph also gave Arellano its second women’s volleyball title after winning it all in 2015.

The trio of team captain Ria Sante, Finals MVP Jovie Prado, and Andrea Marzan teamed up in delivering the hardware for the Lady Chiefs as all three poured in 14 points each.

Sante had 12 of her markers off kills and two aces, while Marzan got 11 of hers coming from spikes, two service aces, and a block.

Mary Anne Esguerra was also instrumental in that fourth set. She chipped in 12 points.

“I’m just thankful for my players because even in that small way, I felt they condoled with me,” said Arellano head coach Obet Javier, who dedicated the championship to his late wife, Amy Marie, who died two weeks ago due to lung cancer.

It was Arellano’s 12th straight victory, bouncing back from its lone defeat of the season, an opening day loss to San Sebastian.

“This is really a big thing for us because we worked hard for this year,” said Javier.
It was a sorry defeat for the Lady Stags, which squandered another thrice-to-beat advantage for the second consecutive season.

Season MVP Grethcel Soltones finished with 25 points, all coming from kills, but will end her collegiate career without any NCAA title.