Early Ateneo-La Salle clash spices up UAAP Season 81 volleyball opening weekend

MANILA, Philippines—De La Salle’s title reign is off to a tough start as it begins the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament against rival  Ateneo on Feb. 17 at Mall of Asia Arena.

The matchup between the Lady Spikers, who are gunning for their fourth straight,  and two-time champion Lady Eagles headline the opening weekend of the biggest event in the UAAP’s second semester.

Ateneo and La Salle share a storied history together, having squared off in six straight finals in the last  decade with the Lady Spikers winning four championships to the Lady Eagles’ two.

University of Santo Tomas looks to get a quick turnaround from its disappointing Season 80 campaign when it takes on Adamson University in the first game of the Feb. 17 game day.

The Golden Tigresses missed out of the Final Four in 2018 after finishing with a 4-10 record—the second-worst mark in Season 80—while the Lady Falcons will start life in the post-Jema Galanza era.

University of the Philippines and University of the East will formally start the tournament on Feb. 16 at Filoil Flying V Centre at 2 pm.

Season 80 runner-up Far Eastern University will take on last year’s no.4 National University in the second game of the tournament’s opening day.