UAAP: Lady Spikers fall to NU, drop to 2-1

The DLSU Lady Spikers could not build on their opening week victories as they fell to the NU Lady Bulldogs in four sets, 25-16, 26-24, 14-25, 25-23, earlier today at the Mall of Asia Arena. With the loss, La Salle is now tied with NU at 2-1 in the season standings.

Player of the Game Jorelle Singh, Jaja Santiago, and Myla Pablo combined for 48 points to lead NU to victory. Mary Joy Baron led DLSU with a game-high 19 points on 18 spikes but it was not enough to overcome an early two-set deficit.

Though DLSU got the first point of the game, NU capitalized on errors from the Lady Spikers while Santiago found the holes in the defense to give the Lady Bulldogs a 6-2 lead early in the first set. The Lady Spikers would score four straight points to tie the set at six but NU entered the first set’s technical timeout with an 8-6 lead. NU continued to build a head of steam after the break, building a double-digit lead, at 19-8, in the latter part of the first set. La Salle tried to cut the lead but NU took the set, 25-16, after a long rally between both teams.

Both teams traded points in the early parts of the second set but DLSU entered the first TTO of the second set holding an 8-5 lead. They remained in control heading into the second TTO of the second set, 16-10, but NU responded with an 8-2 run that tied the set at 18. The set remained close until the Lady Bulldogs snuck past La Salle, 26-24, to move within a set from clinching the victory.

La Salle would begin the third set on an 8-2 run that ignited the DLSU crowd and gave the Lady Spikers a lead they would not relinquish throughout the set. They found ways to stop Santiago and Pablo as Baron and Mika Reyes put the clamps on the Lady Bulldogs, allowing DLSU to take the set, 25-14.

The fourth set began with both teams once again trading points until DLSU took a 16-12 lead heading into the second TTO of the fourth set. La Salle seemed ready to force a fifth and final set but the Lady Bulldogs began to chip at the La Salle lead until the game was tied at 21. Both teams would once again trade points, only stopping when an NU service ace sealed the deal for the Lady Bulldogs.

Reyes and Ara Galang were the last two DLSU players in double figures, finishing with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Roselyn Doria and Jasmine Nabor were the only other scorers for NU, as they added six and five points, respectively.

Up next for the Lady Spikers are the Adamson Lady Falcons, whom they will face this Saturday, February 13, at 2 pm in the FilOil Arena.