Dy: Losses to Ateneo fueling La Salle’s drive to defend crown

The La Salle Lady Spikers celebrate after beating the Ateneo Lady Eagles in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball Finals on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
INQUIRER PHOTO/AUGUST DELA CRUZ

De La Salle may be the defending champion in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament, but for most of Season 79 the Lady Spikers haven’t been able to crack Ateneo’s code.

The Lady Spikers were swept by the top-seeded Lady Eagles in the elimination round and finished second heading into the Final Four. 

La Salle, however, exacted sweet revenge in the first game of the Finals with a resounding four-set win, 21-25, 29-27, 25-22, 25-20, Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

READ: La Salle takes Game 1 of UAAP Finals, beats Ateneo

Last year’s Finals MVP Kim Kianna Dy feels those losses to the Lady Eagles were enough to motivate the Lady Spikers to win.

“We held on to those losses since we never won against them,” said Dy, who had 14 points in the victory. “We really want to defend the crown.

READ: Graduating Fajardo wants Game 2 to be her last UAAP game

Dy also punctuated the Lady Spikers’ triumph as she delivered the game’s last two points.

And with La Salle a win away from its second straight title—its10th overall—Dy said the Lady Spikers are focused on getting the sweep.

“We’re excited to defend the crown and hopefully Saturday will be our last game,” said Dy.