Contrasting starts for UAAP volley champs

MANILA, Philippines – La Salle kicked off its women’s title defense with a victory while men’s titleholder University of Santo Tomas fell on its debut in the UAAP volleyball tournament over the weekend.

Abigail Maraño fired 17 hits as the Lady Archers topped Adamson, 25-20, 25-23, 13-25, 25-22, Sunday at the FilOil-Flying V Arena.

But the four-time champion Tigers bowed to the University of the Philippines Maroons, who leaned on Samuel Paquiz’s 26 spikes for a 25-22, 18-25, 18-25, 25-23, 18-16 triumph.

Ateneo also stunned the Tigresses in straight sets, 25-16, 25-23, 25-18, with Alyssa Valdez, Fille Cainglet and Dzi Gervacio leading the Lady Eagles’ balanced attack.

Also scoring wins were National University, which downed the Lady Maroons, 25-6, 25-15, 25-18, and Far Eastern, which plastered University of the East, 25-19, 25-14, 25-23.

In men’s play, FEU bested La Salle, 25-16, 17-25, 25-23, 25-16, Ateneo tripped UE, 25-16, 25-23, 25-21, and NU nipped Adamson, 25-20, 20-25, 25-20, 18-25, 15-8.