Using balanced scoring, College of Saint Benilde extended its impressive opening run in the 95th NCAA women’s volleyball tournament to three games on Monday following a 25-20, 25-18, 25-15 conquest of Letran at Filoil Flying V Centre.
All 11 players fielded in by coach Jerry Yee scored, with Chelsea Umali leading the way for the Lady Blazers with seven points.
Klarisa Abriam, Michelle Gamit and substitute Jade Gentapa each had six points for St. Benilde, which temporarily wrestled away the lead from idle defending champion Arellano University.
The Lady Blazers’ young duo of Gayle Pascual and Mycah Go, regarded as the future of Benilde, came off the bench and produced five points apiece.
The Lady Knights kept the match close in the opening frame before the Lady Blazers pulled away late, with Diane Ventura capping her four-point outing in the set with a kill.
Yee was able to shuffle his rotation in the second and third sets that worked wonders.
Letran dropped to 1-1, tied with University of Perpetual Help System Dalta and Jose Rizal University.
Chamberlaine Cuñada finished with 15 hits for the Lady Knights.
Meanwhile, Ruvince Abrot had two service aces to finish with 15 points as St. Benilde downed Letran, 25-21, 25-16, 25-22, to raise its record to 2-1 in the men’s division.
Arieh Barba scored 10 points as Letran earned its first juniors win with a 25-12, 25-11, 25-8 rout of CSB-LSGH.
In the other match, Mapua bagged its first victory at the expense of Emilio Aguinaldo College, 21-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-22.
Lorraine Barrias scored all but one of her 20 points from spikes while Angeline Mangundayao was the other Lady Cardinal in double-digits with 10, including two blocks.
The Lady Generals, who drew 19 points from Krizzia Reyes, stumbled to their second straight loss.