After perfect run in Super League, NU Lady Bulldogs eager to learn in Japan

The NU Lady Bulldogs also capture Shakey’s Super League title via sweep. –SSL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines —A dominant showing in the Shakey’s Super League has not deterred National University’s hunger one bit.

After extending their dominance with another perfect title run in the Super League, capped by a masterful 25-23, 25-20, 25-20 victory over La Salle, on Saturday, the Lady Bulldogs are scheduled for a grueling camp in two weeks.

They are headed to Japan for a training camp from December 4 to 18 ahead of their title-retention bid in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament next year.

“The more na nananalo ka din, the more na yung responsibility namin as a team na hindi kami magpapabaya. Hindi kami puwede maging complacent sa bawat kalaban namin,” said NU coach Karl Dimaculangan after winning his second championship with the team. “Kasi alam namin at some point, mayroong gusto rin sa amin makasabay.“

“Ire-review yung performance namin and magre-ready na siguro for UAAP. Hindi pwede na ganito lang. Expect more palagi.”

(The more we win, the bigger responsibility for our team. We can’t be complacent because we know at some point, other teams want to match our level. We will review our performance here and prepare for UAAP. We can’t be contented, we have to expect more.)

Under Dimaculangan, NU has won 24 straight games, including a 16-0 sweep of the UAAP Season 84 to end a 65-year title drought.

In the Super League, the Lady Bulldogs started life without middle blocker Ivy Lacsina and other seniors but remained dominant even in the all-to-play rule as their second unit played stellar as starters to sweep all their eight matches.

But learning never stops for Dimaculangan and his wards. 

“I need to learn more also,” said the NU coach in Filipino. “We can’t settle with what we have and what we know right now. We should always look forward to learning.”

Alyssa Solomon leads NU Lady Bulldogs in Shakey’s Super League individual awarding. –SSL PHOTO

Tournament MVP Alyssa Solomon and veteran libero Jennifer Nierva are also eager to learn from the top volleyball country.

“I want to learn Japan’s faster tempo. Because for me, I still could not jive with the tempo of our open hitters. I want to work on that in Japan,” Solomon said in Filipino.

Nierva has the same mindset as her coach and teammates.

“We have to maximize the opportunity given to us by our team manager because we saw here in the Shakey’s Super League that other teams have improved and become more dedicated to winning. We’re excited to train in Japan,” said the libero.