UAAP: Lady Spikers dismantle UP in four sets to stay undefeated

The DLSU Lady Spikers won their second straight game in the UAAP Season 78 Women’s Volleyball Tournament after defeating the UP Lady Maroons in four sets, 25-14, 25-13, 19-25, 25-20, earlier today at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Five players scored in double-digits for La Salle, led by Majoy Baron with 17 points off 12 spikes. Ernestine Tiamzon and Ara Galang added 13 points apiece, while Carol Cerveza had 12. Mika Reyes completed the cast with 10 points of her own.

Unlike their slow start against the FEU Lady Tamaraws, DLSU had little trouble wrapping up the first set of the match. They never relinquished the lead, eventually winning the set by 11 points, 25-14. Cerveza spearheaded the attack with several service aces in the set, punishing the UP floor defense.

In the second round, the Taft-based squad carried on their momentum. Led by Galang and Baron, La Salle was able to sustain their momentum, winning by a slightly bigger margin, 25-13.

Entering the third set, the Green-and-White looked poised to sweep the game after leading early on. However, the Diliman-based squad did not want to go down without a fight. Lady Maroons Marian Buistre and Justine Dorog rallied their team into seizing a four-point advantage, 17-13. Reyes tried getting her squad back into the set with several scores but to no avail, as the Lady Spikers fell to UP in the third set, 25-19.

Not wanting an upset, the Lady Spikers went on attack mode once again in the fourth set. While they were unable to pull away like in the first two sets, the team was able to keep their opponents at bay, with strong performances from Baron and Galang helping DLSU remain ahead. Up by four, 24-20, Baron scored on an uncontested spike to seal the match for La Salle.

Maria Molde topscored for UP with 15 points on 13 spikes. Dorog and Buitre added 10 and eight points, respectively, in the loss.

In terms of team statistics, the Lady Spikers held a big advantage in spikes, pacing the Lady Maroons, 52-39. They also won in the blocks and service ace categories, with 9-4 and 12-4 scores, respectively. La Salle also committed less mistakes, with 21 errors as opposed to UP’s 25.

There won’t be time to rest for the Lady Spikers as they resume action against perrenial contender National University, whom they’ll face on Wednesday, 4 pm, at the Mall of Asia Arena.