Michaela Belen (right) deftly places a point past Alyssa Bertolano. —UAAP MEDIA
The longest streak in National University’s women’s volleyball history was extended to seven games on Thursday after the Lady Bulldogs walloped University of the Philippines, 25-10, 25-20, 25-15, in Season 84 of the UAAP at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
“We needed this win because it sustains our momentum going into the second round,” said National coach Karl Dimaculangan in Filipino after Michaela Belen scattered 13 points to lead a balanced offensive that doomed the Lady Maroons to their fourth loss in seven matches.
“We have a relatively young team, and this sweep gives my players the motivation to keep preparing hard,” Dimaculangan added. National’s best start was 6-1 in Seasons 76 and 80.
Adamson also ended its first round stint on a high after the Lady Falcons swept University of the East, 25-23, 25-20, 25-18.
May Ann Nuique drilled in 15 points and Lorene Toring added 14 for the Lady Falcons, who closed out with a 4-3 slate while dealing the Lady Warriors a seventh straight defeat.
“We have a relatively young team, and this sweep gives my players the motivation to keep preparing hard,” Dimaculangan added. National’s best start was 6-1 in Seasons 76 and 80.
While National and Adamson had it relatively easy, University of Santo Tomas (UST) labored hard before snapping Ateneo’s three-game winning streak in a later game.
Eya Laure scored 31 points in leading the Golden Tigresses to a marathon 25-19, 25-21, 29-31, 33-31 victory as UST improved to 5-2 while dealing the Lady Eagles their fourth loss also in seven games.
The match lasted for close to 2-1/2 hours and Kungfu Reyes, the UST coach, said that an experience like that will definitely serve his spikers well for the rest of the tournament.
“It’s good that my players went through that kind of a match—it’s like we played six sets,” Reyes said in Filipino.
“I loved seeing that their fighting spirit was there the entire time.”