Lady Altas beat Lady Stags to extend NCAA volleyball finals

MANILA, Philippines—University of Perpetual Help mustered enough strength to outwork San Sebastian, 21-25, 25-12, 28-26, 29-27, to forge a deciding Game 3 in their NCAA Season 88 women’s volleyball championship series at the Arena in San Juan.

Norie Jane Diaz posted 21 points with four service aces while reigning MVP Sandra delos Santos punched in 18 points with four blocks for the Lady Altas, who kept their poise in a pulsating fourth set.

Perpetual Help rose from a 21-23 deficit thanks to delos Santos, who racked up two consecutive points to put her team at match point, 24-23.

Going toe-to-toe with delos Santos, Grethcel Soltones, Lady Stags’ rookie sensation, single-handedly kept her team alive as she rolled off three straight points to turn things around and put San Sebastian on the hill, 26-25.

The Lady Altas though, proved to be the steadier team with their veterans keeping the team’s composure in check.

Delos Santos’ soft attempt floated the ball over two blockers that gave Perpetual Help a second crack at match point, 25-24, to answer a cross-court kill by Soltones.

San Sebastian was the first team to flinch under pressure as it failed to send the ball back after a poor reception that resulted to an error to clinch Perpetual Help’s victory.

Soltones unloaded a game-high 24 points.

The Lady Stags stunned the Lady Altas in Game 1, 26-24, 26-24, 22-25, 27-25.