NU’s Bella Belen celebrates a point vs La Salle. –UAAP MEDIA
MANILA, Philippines–A perfect season beckons for National University.
On Saturday night, the Lady Bulldogs chalked their 15th win in as many matches to come just a victory shy of claiming the UAAP Season 84 women’s volleyball at Mall of Asia Arena.
Displaying the poise that was all there all season, NU crushed La Salle, 25-20, 25-12, 25-21, in Game 1 of their best-of-three title series.
Another victory in Tuesday’s Game 2 would give the Lady Bulldogs a clean sweep of the tournament and their first title since Season 19 back in 1957.
There was no answer for NU fire power with Mhicaela Belen banging 16 points and Alyssa Solomon adding 15 including three of the Lady Bulldogs’ last four points.
Ivy Lacsina and Princess Robles chipped in 12 points each for NU which as never in danger throughout the match.
NU waited for mid first-set before unleashing its usual dominant flair storming to 16-9. But La Salle didn’t give up easily, threatening to within 13-17 only to watch as Alyssa Solomon drilled back-to-back aces to swing the momentum to the Lady Bulldogs’ favour.
The Lady Bulldogs committed more turnovers with 8-4 in the opening frame, but they made up with five kill-blocks against the Lady Spikers’ one which shook the resolve of La Salle’s wing spikers.
Same thing happened in the second, only the Lady Bulldogs were much fiercer leaving the Lady Spikers behind by double digits through all-around dominance.