UAAP: Bella Belen sparks NU sweep of FEU in women’s volleyball
Bella Belen and NU Lady Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament. –UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–National University warmed up for the much-awaited titanic La Salle clash with an assertive 25-21, 25-9, 25-18 victory over Far Eastern University on Saturday at the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball.
Michaela Belen delivered 16 points built on 14 attacks as the Lady Bulldogs battered their rivals with an assortment of forceful incursions for their sixth victory in seven games before concluding the first round on Wednesday against the La Salle Lady Spikers.
Alyssa Solomon had her share of the limelight with 14 points, including 10 attacks, while Princess Robles chipped in 12 points, her last two consecutive kills ending the misery of the Lady Tamaraws, who wound up with a 3-4 record entering the second round.
“Against La Salle, going back to the drawing board. We will review their games and that’s the starting point of our preparation,’’ said NU coach Karl Dimaculangan.
Ahead of the pack with an unbeaten record after five games, the Lady Spikers face another title contender on Sunday in the Adamson Lady Falcons.
WATCH: NU’s Bella Belen, Sheena Toring and coach Karl Dimaculangan after sweeping FEU. #UAAPSeason85 | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/1BrMNsnHhg
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“The kind of preparation that we will make will depend on their game tomorrow (Sunday). We will see the adjustments that they have made here in the first round,’’ said Dimaculangan.
The Lady Tamaraws kept it tantalizingly close in the first set before Belen’s energetic down-the-line smash followed by Solomon’s vicious crosscourt strike broke the standoff at 19-all.
Jovelyn Fernandez saw her attack sail beyond the end line and Jazlyn Ellarina’s block secured the opening set for the Lady Bulldogs.
Robles joined Belen and Solomon in pummeling the Lady Tamaraws as the Lady Bulldogs were hardly threatened in a runaway second set where Solomon sealed it by deflecting 15’s spike.
Belen sustained the barrage of strikes that battered FEU no end in another dominant third set with Robles dropped two consecutive crosscourt kills from the same spot, dashing the hopes of the Lady Tamaraws for good.
