NU libero Jennifer Nierva. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Jennifer Nierva is taking her act to the Chery Tiggo Crossovers ahead of the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference.
The Crossovers on Saturday welcomed the graduating National University star.
Nierva played four seasons with the Lady Bulldogs and made it to the finals for back-to-back seasons.
The 23-year-old defensive specialist was part of NU’s historic 16-0 sweep in Season 84, where she also won the Best Libero award.
Nierva and the Lady Bulldogs settled for silver this year after getting swept by the La Salle Lady Spikers in the Finals.
Besides Nierva, the team also added Lady Bulldogs’ setter Joyme Cagande.
Cagande, who was the back-up playmaker of Lams Lamina in the past two UAAP seasons, will beef up the setter rotation of the Crossovers, joining Alina Bicar and Jasmine Nabor.
The libero-setter pair is reuniting with former Nazareth School assistant coach Aaron Velez, who calls the shots for Chery Tiggo as head coach and team manager.
Nierva is teaming up with veteran libero Buding Duremdes to protect the floor of the Crossovers, led by Mylene Paat.
The team has three more players to reveal.
Chery Tiggo is raring to reclaim the PVL crown after winning the maiden professional championship in Ilocos Norte two years ago behind the heroics of sisters Jaja Santiago and Dindin Santiago-Manabat.
The Crossovers missed the semifinals of the 2023 All-Filipino Conference with a 4-4 record in the elimination round.
Chery Tiggo is slated in Pool A for the Invitational Conference with defending champion Creamline, PLDT, Akari, and Gerflor.
Pool B is composed of F2 Logistics, Petro Gazz, Cignal, Choco Mucho, and Farm Fresh with the top two teams of each group will advance to the semifinals and play another round-robin with guest teams from Japan and Australia.
The best two clubs of the semis round will clash in a knockout championship game, while the third and fourth seed teams will collide for the bronze medal.