UAAP: ‘No complications’ volleyball has NU off to searing start

NU Lady Bulldogs during a victory over Ateneo Blue Eagles in UAAP Season 87.–UAAP PHOTO

Sherwin Meneses’ arrival at National University (NU) a few months back was welcomed with open arms by the intact core of the Lady Bulldogs, who are now playing in a simpler, easier yet swashbuckling way.

The Lady Bulldogs got their repeat bid in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament off on a rip-roaring note after consecutive straight-sets wins that count one over bitter rival La Salle.

And the key to those, the stars say, is Meneses’ approach to the game.

“Coach Sherwin has a lot of experience, he is a champion coach after all,” NU star Bella Belen said in Filipino. “The new thing we learned from him is he made playing volleyball much easier [for us]. It was already easy before, but with him, there are no complications.

“With that, we know we can achieve what we set out to do.”

The Bulldogs ripped Ateneo, 25-23, 25-19, 25-15 on Wednesday night, a victory that came on the heels of a 25-23, 25-21, 25-18 domination of the Lady Spikers that showcased the capability of the team to win a third title in the last four years.

Setter Camilla Lamina was instrumental in those victories with a combined 34 excellent sets and has earned praise from Meneses, who has a knack for developing good setters into great ones.

“Coach Sherwin’s system is so simple, so playing has became simpler,” Lamina said, also in Filipino. “[He] has such a huge impact [on the way we play now] because we are also given confidence every training and every game.”

Great playmakers

Meneses has seen his fair share of great playmakers such in former Creamline ace Jia de Guzman and her successor Kyle Negrito, who improved under the soft-spoken coach when the Alas Pilipinas regular decided to play overseas.

“Lams is already good,” said Meneses, who has made Creamline the winningest team in the PVL with the system Belen and Lamina now love.

“I still have a lot to improve on,” Lamina said. “I want to reach the level that they [De Guzman and Negrito] are on.”

Alyssa Solomon top-scored for the second straight game with 12 points and will take a 16-point average into the Bulldogs’ third game, which will be against another formidable foe in Far Eastern on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

“I always tell them to work hard, to be ready and be competitive,” Meneses, while scouting the Lady Tamaraws late Tuesday night, said. “I am happy because all of them have contributed [so far], even our bench players.

“Hopefully, it stays that way in our next game.”