Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
National University recovered from its dismal second set to beat University of the East, 25-15, 18-25, 25-23, 25-19, and stay undefeated in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament Sunday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The Lady Bulldogs streaked to their third straight win to take sole possession of the top seed while the Lady Warriors are at the bottom with a 0-3 card.
After going back and forth against the Lady Warriors and trailing, 11-10, midway through the fourth set, the Lady Bulldogs upped the ante and went on a 13-2 run to take a 23-13 lead with Aiko Urdas finishing it off with a through-the-block kill.
NU head coach Babes Castillo said they had a good win, but after seeing his team falter in the second set he knew his players could do better.
“The win earlier was a good win, but it was not a good performance,” said Castillo in Filipino. “I told them to forget about the second set and let’s move on, it’s already marked on the card.”
“My players’ captain responded on the dot on what the situation needed and the team will go with the captain,” Castillo said, referring to Jaja Santiago.
When NU committed several four straight errors that allowed UE to trim the deficit to six, 23-17, in the fourth set, it was Santiago, who stopped the Lady Warriors’ fun with a well-placed kill that put the Lady Bulldogs in match point, 24-17.
Santiago led the Lady Bulldogs’ charge with 23 points while Roselyn Doria added 12 points.
Shaya Adorador and May Ann Mendrez led UE with 11 points apiece.