Benilde holds off stubborn Lyceum for share of lead

Mycah Go set off a fifth-set blast as St. Benilde turned back a hard-fighting Lyceum, 23-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-18, 15-7, on Friday to rocket to a share of the lead in the 95th NCAA women’s volleyball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre.

Go scored three points in the heat of the Lady Blazers’ scoring binge in the deciding frame as they tied idle Arellano at 2-0 (win-loss).

Powered by rookies who mostly came from Hope Christian High School, the Lady Blazers averted a fourth set collapse after watching the Lady Pirates pillage their 16-11 cushion and tie the match.

But St. Benilde came up with a scoring spree of its own, highlighted by back-to-back kill-blocks to force a fifth set.

The Lady Pirates dropped to 0-2.

Earlier, Chamberlaine Cunada exploded with 24 points to power Letran to a 22-25, 25-10, 25-18, 25-13 triumph over Emilio Aguinaldo.

Letran coach Mike Inoferio credited his wards’ resolve even though most of them are rookies and sophomores.

“In the first set my players were so intimidated,” Inoferio said. “This is the first time they are playing before a big crowd.”

Fortunately for the Lady Knights, they managed to regroup from the second set on.

“Our excitement simmered down in the second set. We stuck to the system and they got their confidence back,” he added.

Dane Iam Ohya and Julienne Castro helped the Lady Knights’ cause by scoring 15 and 11, respectively. Libero Julia Angeles took charge of the defense, making 30 digs and seven receptions.