Nazareth stars commit to UP women’s volleyball team

UP women’s volleyball team commits Yesha Noceja and Kianne Olango. –HANDOUT PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — National University-Nazareth School stars Kianne Olango and Yesha Noceja have committed to University of the Philippines for the next UAAP women’s volleyball season next year.

The UP Office of Athletics and Sports and Development on Tuesday announced it has secured the commitments of UAAP Season 85 MVP and Season 86 Best Opposite Hitter Olango and outside spiker Noceja, who will be both eligible in Season 87.

“When you build a program, you need players with talent, determination, and leadership. Ganyan na ganyan yung maitutulong sa’tin ni Yesha and Kianne, as well as all our recruits,” said coach Oliver Almadro, who is also a program director

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The 18-year-old was once dubbed by living legend Alyssa Valdez to be “(among the) future of Philippine volleyball.”

“I’m very thankful for the learnings I got from my time in NUNS. At the same time, sobrang excited ko lang din pong makapag-aral sa UP para sa future ko while also doing whatever I can to help out,” said Olango, who is a two-time UAAP champion.

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Noceja was discovered by Nazareth School while playing for NCR in the Palarong Pambansa before becoming one of the reliable scorers of the Lady Bullpups.

“Malaking bagay pong makakapag-prepare kami para sa future namin on- and off-court sa school na nag-e-excel in both athletics and academics. Thank you very much to NUNS para sa lahat ng nagawa nila para sa’min,” Noceja said.

Noceja and Olango will join fellow blue-chip recruits Jothea Mae Ramos from Bacolod Tay Tung High School and Joanneesse Gabrielle Perez from Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu.