Happy Lady Eagles soar to victory

After losing its first two matches, Ateneo has started to find its groove.

And the Lady Eagles did it by finding joy in the game again.

“They just have to enjoy the game because I know that if we’re happy we can beat anybody,” said Ateneo team captain Maddie Madayag.

Ateneo picked up its second straight win at the expense of University of the East, 21-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-14, in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament Saturday at Filoil Flying V Centre.

The victory gave the Lady Eagles a share of fourth spot at 2-2 with Far Eastern University, which fended off University of the Philippines, 25-23, 25-12, 25-19, in the second game.

Although Ateneo managed to get its groove in the latter sets, Madayag said the first set was a disappointment for them that they forgot to play with happiness.

“They were really tensed inside the floor earlier and I don’t think they knew what to do,” said Madayag. “They weren’t happy at all.”

But luckily, the Lady Eagles regained their bearings as the players unleashed a 12-4 run in the fourth set that Ponggay Gaston finished with a down-the-line kill for a 16-8 Ateneo lead.

Jhoanna Maraguinot powered the Lady Eagles with 20 points, while Madayag had 12.

Heather Guino-o, meanwhile, led FEU with 11 points while Toni Rose Basas and Bernadeth Pons had 10 and nine points, respectively.

“We somehow managed to find a way to redeem ourselves because if we lose three straight it will be hard for us to come back,” said FEU coach George Pascua in Filipino.

“This is a big morale-booster for us because this got the players to get their confidence back.”

From a 9-9 deadlock in the third set, FEU ramped up the ante and went on a 7-0 run as the Lady Tamaraws took a 16-9 advantage.

Although UP managed to cut the deficit to 22-19, Celine Domingo came up big in the clutch and blocked Diana Carlos for a 24-19 FEU lead, before Jeanette Villareal ended the match with a service ace.

The Lady Maroons skidded to a third straight loss and seventh spot at 1-3, while the Lady Warriors remained winless in four outings.