UAAP volleyball: UE stops 6-game skid by after edging Adamson

Casiey Dongallo and the UE Lady Warriors in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament. –UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Casiey Dongallo shed tears of joy after University of the East subdued Adamson University, 26-24, 23-25, 25-18, 25-20, at the start of its second-round campaign on Saturday in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.

The power-smashing rookie hammered 12 of her game-high 28 points in the final set, including her team’s last five attacks at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, lifting the Lady Warriors from a slump after losing six games in a row.

“We’re glad that we finally won. I don’t pressure myself, I just work hard and with the help of my teammates, we were able to achieve this,’’ said Dongallo after tallying 25 attacks, two blocks and an ace aside from finishing two points shy of her career-high 30 points against Far Eastern University in the first round.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball second round

Riza Nogales backstopped Dongallo with 17 points, maximizing her height advantage by compiling six of UE’s eight blocks, while Kayce Balingit contributed 10 attacks.

Apart from moving up the ladder with their second victory in eight outings, the Lady Warriors managed to break out of a pothole where they won only a single game in each of the past two seasons.

“This is a great win and we’ve hit the record. It’s been a while since we had two wins in one year,’’ said UE interim coach Obet Vital.

Ishie Lalongisip bombed the Lady Warriors with 15 attacks out of her team-high 17 points and Barbie Jamili added 11 points, 16 digs, three blocks and an ace that all went to naught as Adamson fell into a tie with UE.

READ: UAAP volleyball: Casiey Dongallo’s historic night goes for naught, but loss serves as lesson

“We’re being asked to win one more, so we’ll just continue to do things better, fight harder and tougher,’’ added Vital, who took over the reins from suspended coach Jerry Yee.

The Lady Falcons ferociously chased UE from three points down near the conclusion of the first set with Jamili leading the raid.

Jamili’s cross court spike followed by an ace helped overtake the Lady Warriors, 24-23, only to let the effort fritter away after Dongallo imposed herself.

UE coach Obet Vital, Kizzie Madriaga, Casiey Dongallo, and Riza Nogales after ending a six-game skid. #PVL2024 | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/ZkHCBgWYU8

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) March 23, 2024

Dongallo aced it after a towering smash before they secured the opening frame on an erroneous net fault challenge by Adamson coach JP Yude.

Adamson swung back in the second set, relying heavily on Lalongisip’s firepower that slowed down the Lady Warriors.

Lalongisip scored her team’s last four points capped by a spike through a block at set point that leveled the count.

After the Lady Warriors seized the edge in the third set, Dongallo buckled down to work and relentlessly pummeled Adamson with various hits that shattered the last deadlock at 19 and rewarded UE the triumph.