Rough start for Lady Bulldogs as main setter goes down with injury in first game

Injured rookie setter Joyme Cagande. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—National University is off to a rough start in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament.

The Lady Bulldogs lost rookie setterJoyme Cagande to a knee injury in the Lady Bulldogs’ 22-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-12, loss to University of the Philippines Saturday at Filoil Flying V Center.

Cagande collided with Roselyn Doria late in the third set and according to initial diagnosis, she suffered a sprained lateral collateral ligament in her left knee.

NU head coach Norman Miguel allayed fears of a major injury for her young playmaker, but Cagande has already been ruled out of the Lady Bulldogs’ next game.

“Our physical therapist told us that there’s no major injury but it’s better to have it checked through an MRI scan,” said Miguel in Filipino. “Definitely she can’t play next game so that’s the situation.”

“Instead of dwelling on these challenges, we’ll just look for the positives.”

With Cagande, who was also nursing a shoulder injury prior to her fall, out, Miguel said he has no choice but to use Klymince Orillaneda as the team’s setter.

Orillaneda is primarily a beach volleyball player and she was only included in the Lady Bulldogs’ lineup since the team only had 10 players.

“I’m not really a setter so when I was put in the game I just asked my teammates where I would position myself and where they want the ball,” said Orillaneda.