Ateneo claims top spot, repeats over La Salle

Ateneo defeats La Salle anew. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Ateneo closed out its eliminations campaign with an emphatic win over archrivals De La Salle, 12-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-19, and finished as the top seed in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Lady Eagles wrapped up the eliminations with a 12-2 card while the defending champions Lady Spikers settled for an 11-3 slate, good for second place in the semifinals.

Mich Morente found the opening in her final hit, skillfully bouncing her attack off the La Salle blockers to seal the match and propel the Lady Eagles in a semis matchup against the fourth-seeded Far Eastern University.

Ateneo assistant coach Sherwin Meneses said their win over the Lady Spikers is a vital stepping stone as they head into the semifinals knowing they’re the top team in the eliminations.

“This is a big achievement because the team has a really high morale right now,” said Meneses. “That’s the point of taking the no.1 spot, you’ll have a higher morale and you’re more confident than the other teams.”

Ateneo played without outside hitter Jhoana Maraguinot, who the coaches opted to give a second day off, and instead fielded in rookie Jules Samonte as the team’s primary hitter.

Samonte paid instant dividends for the Lady Eagles as she scored 10 points, while seniors Morente and Bea De Leon who carried the bulk of the scoring finishing with 14 points apiece.

Kim Kianna Dy led La Salle with 15 points while Desiree Cheng added 13.

Ateneo also defeated La Salle in the first round, 26-24, 26-24, 21-25, 25-17.