UAAP volleyball: NU stays undefeated, sends Ateneo to 0-2 start

NU Lady Bulldogs. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

National University came through in the clutch to take down Ateneo, 25-19, 25-19, 20-25, 12-25, 15-7, and score its second straight win in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament Wednesday at Filoil Flying V Centre.

The Lady Bulldogs raced to the top of the standings with a 2-0 record while the Lady Eagles slipped to 0-2, their worst start since Season 73 when they began 1-1.

After letting the Lady Eagles swoop down on them in the fourth set, the Lady Bulldogs went into the offensive in the fifth and deciding set.

NU capitalized on Kat Tolentino’s error late in the fifth set to take an 11-7 lead before Audrey Paran scored a block for the Lady Bulldogs’ 12-7 lead.

Then it was up to Jasmine Nabor to knock the Lady Eagles out cold scoring three straight service aces with the last one landing square in the middle of Ateneo’s defense to end the match for NU.

NU head coach Babes Castillo said they had a momentarily lapse in communication in the third and fourth sets and that allowed Ateneo to force a fifth one, but he immediately reminded his team the three components that allowed the Lady Bulldogs to start with a two-set lead.

“First we need our deserved respect, and by that we should work hard for each of our point,” said Castillo in Filipino. “Second is ‘whistle to whistle’ that whatever happens, if the opponent or us scores, we will give it all.”

“Lastly was our communication.”

Castillo said Nabor had a hard time conveying plays to her teammates, be it the noise of the crowd or the pressure of the situation.

“Jasmine had a hard time communicating with her teammates when she was giving out instructions, but they quickly fixed it.”

Jaja Santiago asserted her dominance over Ateneo with a game-high 26 points while Nabor had 11 points and 29 excellent sets.

Jhoanna Maraguinot led Ateneo with 16 points while Tolentino and Ponggay Gaston added 12 and 10 points, respectively.