UAAP: Lady Spikers sweep Ateneo in second round opener, Green Spikers stun UP

The DLSU Green Spikers and Lady Spikers went on to the same winning fate to open the second round of the UAAP Season 76 eliminations.

After losing to the AdU Falcons during their last game of the first round, the Green Spikers went back on the winning track, stunning the UP Fighting Maroons in straight sets, 25-18, 25-17, 25-22. Red Christensen led his team with 19 points coming from 16 attacks and three blocks.

Meanwhile, the Lady Spikers played a one-sided game against the ADMU Lady Eagles, sweeping their archrivals, 25-14, 25-14, 25-19. Team captain Abi Marano displayed her leadership for the defending champions as she tallied 10 points, coming from nine attacks and one service ace. The Lady Spikers remain on top of the league with an 8-0 win loss record.

A better start

It took four sets for La Salle to win over UP during their first round encounter. The Green Spikers lost the first set, but managed to bounce back in the latter sets to take the victory. However, it was a faster game this time around as La Salle defeated UP in straight sets.
The Green Spikers showed a solid team effort to win the first set, 25-18. La Salle had the advantage in the blocking department with nine points compared to four for UP. The Taft-based spikers maintained their consistency in the second set as they limited the points of UP, 25-17.

UP almost got away in the third set but La Salle displayed their composure on the court. The close third set ended in favor of the Green Spikers, 25-22.

Sustained dominance

The points were equally distributed among the starters of the Lady Spikers. Marano and Mika Reyes led the charge for the Lady Spikers early in the first set. La Salle played good offense and tight floor defense while Ateneo struggled with a couple of attack and receiving errors that were easily converted to points for the Lady Spikers. An outside hit by Ella de Jesus gave DLSU a point and ended the first set, 25-14.

La Salle continued its dominance in the second set and played with the same intensity on offense and defense against the Lady Eagles. Ara Galang, Cyd Demecillo as well as setter Kim Fajardo led the charge for La Salle’s offense. Despite Alyssa Valdez and Amy Ahomiro taking charge for their team with a total of 10 and six points respectively, Ateneo could not keep off their errors that marked another lopsided lost set, 25-14.

In the third set, Marano, Reyes, Galang and Demecillo shared the spotlight for the Lady Spikers. They led by as much as 12 points at 23-11. Only two points away from clinching their eighth victory, Ateneo still tried to catch up, scoring four straight points. Mika Esperanza scored for the Lady Spikers through an easy over to stop the run. La Salle couldn’t finish the match as Amy Ahomiro scored two consecutive points for the Lady Eagles. Kim Dy suffered back-to-back errors but Esperanza managed to finally end the match, 25-19.

Head coach Ramil de Jesus expected the Lady Spikers to play a fast game against the Lady Eagles in this second round encounter. He explains, “Last time ganun din nangyari eh. Nakita ko medyo madami ang advantage ang La Salle compared sa Ateneo team. So, nagamit namin yung mga advantage na yun.”

Up next for the Green Spikers are the ADMU Blue Eagles whom they will face on Wednesday, January 22 at the Arena in San Juan. Meanwhile, the Lady Spikers will go up against the AdU Lady Falcons on January 25, Saturday, at 4pm in the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.