La Salle, NU whip foes

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Defending champion La Salle made quick work of Adamson, 25-16, 25-21, 25-20, in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament Saturday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Rookie Jolina dela Cruz led all scorers with 10 points while Michelle Cobb dished out 25 excellent sets for the Lady Spikers, who rolled to 2-0 to start the season after beating fierce rival Ateneo in their first game last Sunday.

“There are still situations where they fail to adjust and commit errors and perhaps it’s because of their lack of communication inside the court,” said de Jesus, whose squad blew a 17-11 lead in the second set as Adamson pulled within a point, 22-21.

Des Cheng and Aduke Ogunsanya added nine points each for La Salle while May Luna chipped in eight.

Bernadette Flora and Mary Joy Dacoron scored nine points apiece for the Lady Falcons, who fell to 0-2.

Facing early adversity, National University rose to the occasion after beating University of the East, 25-19, 25-23, 25-19, in the earlier game to log its first win of the season.

Ivy Lacsina fired a game-high 18 points to lead the way for the Lady Bulldogs, who played their first game minus lone setter Joyme Cagande, who sat out the match due to a left knee injury.

“We’re happy but I can’t really express how happy we are because everyone knows the team’s struggles,” said Norman Miguel, who is in his first year as NU’s head coach.

Without Cagande, who could miss the rest of the season after suffering what is feared to be an ACL injury in NU’s loss to FEU last week, the Lady Bulldogs found an able replacement in Joni Chavez, who was converted from libero to setter.

Chavez did not disappoint with 14 excellent sets in her first stint as a setter.

“It’s tough at first but I’m just taking it as a challenge,” Chavez said in Filipino.

Roselyn Doria added 12 points for NU.