UAAP: Green Spikers and Lady Spikers begin 2014 on a high note

2014 was off to a good start as the DLSU Green Spikers and the DLSU Lady Spikers swept their opponents in straight sets over the weekend at the San Juan Arena to give DLSU a clean sweep in the first weekend of volleyball action.

The Green Spikers finally ended their back-to-back game losing streak as they won against the UE Red Warriors in straight sets, 25-21, 25-16, 25-18, last January 4 at the Arena in San Juan. Veteran Green Spiker Red Christensen led his team towards their first win of 2014 with 21 points.

The Lady Spikers on the other hand, remained undefeated in the Women’s Division and have yet to drop a set as they swept the FEU Lady Tamaraws, 25-19, 25-17, 25-16. Ara Galang was the best player of the game, leading the Lady Spikers with 18 points.

A chance to rise

It wasn’t easy for the Green Spikers to win the first set as UE tried to keep it close. Despite their opponents catching up late in the set, La Salle was able to move forward and won the first set, 25-21.

With a total of nine points in the blocking area coupled with four service aces, the men in Green-and White were more composed in the latter parts of the game, winning the second set by nine, 25-16. UE still tried to keep their game alive in the third set but La Salle managed to finish the match early, 25-18.

Consistency

The Lady Spikers took control of the first set, racing to a 20-10 lead after a FEU service error. The Lady Tamaraws went on 9-4 run before Galang sealed the opening set for DLSU at 25-19.

The second set was a close one as both teams traded points for almost half of the set, with both DLSU and FEU tied at 11 points. It wasn’t until the Lady Spikers used an 8-3 run to take a 19-14 lead and force FEU to take a timeout. It wasn’t enough; DLSU limited FEU to only three points while scoring six of their own, sealing the second set at 25-17.

The final set was all DLSU as Mika Reyes, Kim Fajardo, and Aby Marano took turns in extending the lead which ballooned to seven,16-9, heading into the technical time out. Services errors and timely scores from Marano and  Desiree Cheng helped keep DLSU ahead until Alex Tan sealed the set and the game at 25-16.

Before the UAAP season began, DLSU and FEU faced each other last during the 2013 Unigames wherein the former lost to FEU in the semifinals. For head coach Ramil de Jesus, today’s victory was not all about taking “revenge”, as UAAP is another thing. He explains, “Sa akin, UAAP kasi ‘to eh so kailangan pumunta ka dito para gawin mo yung trabaho mo. Gawin mo yung trabaho mo as a player.” De Jesus commended the Lady Tamaraws’ strengths on good floor defense and fast plays, which became a big challenge for his team.

With today’s fifth straight-set win, De Jesus and the rest of the team still prepare for the possibility of losing a set and he says, “Isa sa mga mabigat nga ‘yun. Isa ‘yun sa mga dapat paghandaan ng team na ‘pag naka-experience matalo ng set, dapat mabilis makarecover so ‘yun yung dapat naming paghandaan.

Up next for the Green Spikers is the ADMU Blue Eagles whom they will face on January 11 at the Arena in San Juan, while the Lady Spikers will face their archrivals’ female counterparts, the Lady Eagles, on January 12, 4 pm at the Mall of Asia Arena.