La Salle clinches its 2nd straight UAAP women’s volleyball title. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
La Salle clinched its second straight title after outlasting fierce rival Ateneo, 19-25, 25-14, 18-25, 25-18, 15-10, to sweep the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball Finals on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Lady Spikers took home their 10th crown in 19 years under coach Ramil de Jesus.
La Salle leaned on Desiree Cheng and Kim Kianna Dy in the fourth set where the Lady Spikers broke loose from an 11-all deadlock to force a deciding fifth set.
With the tide turning to their favor, the Lady Spikers jumped to a 10-4 lead before the Lady Eagles racked up four straight points to make things a little more interesting.
Tin Tiamzon pushed La Salle back up by four, 13-9, before MVP Majoy Baron found the open space to put the Lady Spikers at championship point. Ateneo’s Jho Maraguinot sent the ball out to end the epic duel as La Salle bagged its sixth championship in 10 years.
Ateneo came out strong and jumped to a two sets-to-one lead with the Lady Eagles pouncing on the Lady Spikers’ spotty floor defense. But La Salle regrouped as it also drew big efforts from graduating star Kim Fajardo, season MVP Majoy Baron.