NU deals UST its first loss in UAAP women’s volleyball

Bella Belen and Chammy Maaya during NU’s victory over UST in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball second round.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–National University stripped off the invisibility cloak that University of Santo Tomas proudly wielded for some time with a 23-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-20, victory last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Bella Belen came up with another stellar performance along with Alyssa Solomon and Vangie Alinsug as the Lady Bulldogs averted a potential sweep by the Tigresses in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.

“We set a goal against UST and we were able to apply all our efforts in training into this game,” said Belen, teary-eyed after Solomon’s service ace at match point completed their payback after a first-round setback opposite the Tigresses.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball second round

Belen’s all-around effort resulted in 24 points underlined by 21 attacks along with 13 digs, 10 receptions and had two of NU’s 10 blocks.

Alinsug added 14 attacks out of her 18 points and registered three aces while Solomon lit up the stats sheet with 17 points that went pretty well with three aces.

“Every one of us wanted to win this. We really wanted to get back at them and all the sacrifices are worth it,” said Solomon, who delivered four of their last five attack points.

Camilla Lamina fed their hitters with 16 excellent sets and Shaira Jardio protected the Lady Bulldogs’ turf with 23 receptions and 10 digs.

NU Lady Bulldogs celebrate after beating the UST Tigresses in the second round of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The Lady Bulldogs are solidly strapped at third place with a 7-2 record behind UST’s 8-1 card and defending champion La Salle’s seven victories against a loss.

Angeline Poyos led the Tigresses with 18 points and Regina Jurado added 11.

The race to secure the first set was fierce with both schools exchanging fireballs before Jurado seized the moment.

Jurado smartly pushed the leather to an open spot and added an off-the-block hit that shattered the last deadlock in the opening set.

She then closed it out with a searing back row attack with no NU defender ready to deflect the strike.

Timely hits by the trio of Alinsug, Solomon and Belen got the Lady Bulldogs going as they stormed back in the second set.

Ahead by six points, the Lady Bulldogs widened the lead to nine courtesy of two Lamina aces and a Belen crosscourt strike.

Solomon punched a back-row attack and Minierva Maaya finally tied the match going into the third set by knocking a down-the-line spike.

The Lady Bulldogs raised a defensive curtain in the ensuing frame with back-to-back blocks by Maaya and another deflection by Belen, bumping them up, 19-16, prior to Alinsug’s string of attacks.

Alinsug raided the Tigresses with a push and a potent crosscourt kill before following it up with another spike off the block to the delight of the NU crowd. Belen’s down-the-line strike at set point gave them the edge after three sets.

Belen wasn’t done yet in the fourth set, banging in one hit after the other as the Lady Bulldogs fended off any resistance from the other end and ultimately seized control.

Belen scored three straight with a variety of kills before Solomon finally took over by driving in four of their last five attack points.

Thoughts of a UST comeback vanished after Solomon’s off-speed spike followed quickly by an ace at match point.