MANILA, Philippines—Ateneo fought off Far Eastern University for a tough 25-19, 25-22, 6-25, 25-27, 15-9 win Saturday night in the 75th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.
The Lady Eagles, last season’s runner up, bucked a horrible third set showing and made sure they build enough cushion in the fifth set to start their bid for a title with a victory.
Alyssa Valdez uncorked with 26 hits, including crucial deliveries in the fifth set just before Dzi Gervacio finished with a match-sealing point.
Head coach Roger Gorayeb, though, was definitely not please with that momentum-shifting third set, where Ateneo registered only six markers.
“Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyari, wala sa plano ko ang magkakaganyan ang laro (I don’t know what happened, it’s not in my plan if the game went like that),” said Gorayeb as the Lady Eagles tied University of the Philippines for the lowest points in a set.
After Valdez, the next top scorer for Ateneo was Fille Cainglet, who had 12 hits.
With their backs against the wall and down two sets, the Lady Tamaraws took two straight sets with the power-hitting Rosemarie Vargas on the firing end.
Vargas led FEU on a losing effort with 24 points, including 22 from kills.