UAAP: Lady Spikers take on FEU, aim for 5th straight win

The DLSU Lady Spikers look to continue their quest for redemption as they gun for their fifth straight win against the slumping FEU Lady Tamaraws.

Fresh off their straight set victory against UP, the Lady Spikers will look to capitalize on the momentum they have had from the opening tip. On the other hand, FEU is raring to bounce back from two straight defeats after starting the season with two straight wins.

With their last loss dating back to last season in the finals, the Lady Spikers have been on a tear so far in Season 77, giving up only one set in their last four matches. Since that lost set against Adamson in the season opener, DLSU has not only won every set but they have also remained at pace with the defending champions Ateneo for the top spot this season. Ara Galang is also having a phenomenal season so far, pacing the lead in scoring and blocking, and is currently neck-and-neck with Ateneo’s Alyssa Valdez for the league’s MVP award.

In their last game against UP, Galang’s team high 20 and Cyd Demecillo’s 10 points powered DLSU into a 25-16, 25-20, 25-21 straight set victory. The Lady Spikers had a solid start in this game compared to their previous games as they took the first two sets with relative ease. In the third and final set however, La Salle raced back from an early 7-2 deficit before taking the final set and sealing the win. 

At 2-2, FEU remains at third place behind both undefeated teams DLSU and Ateneo, and puts them in a three-way tie with Adamson and NU. Despite their strong start, the Lady Tamaraws failed to win a set in their past two games against the Lady Eagles and the Lady Falcons. Remy Palma and Yna Louise Papa rank among the top ten in blocking and serving but both failed to reach double figures in their last game against Adamson.

Though Galang leads the team in scoring, the Lady Spikers also rely on the balanced attack of Mika Reyes, Kim Fajardo, Desiree Cheng, and Dawn Macandili, all of whom are among the league leaders in blocking, serving, and digging, to notch each victory. Palma, Papa, and sophomore Bernadette Pons will spearhead the FEU attack that will be looking to break out of its slump.

The Lady Spikers and Lady Tamaraws will square off this Wednesday, December 10, at 4 pm in the San Juan Arena.