UAAP: Surging Lady Spikers take down Ateneo in finals rematch

It has been two years since the DLSU Lady Spikers won a game against the Ateneo Lady Eagles. After two years and six heartbreaking losses, victory has never tasted so sweet.

The Lady Spikers clinched what is arguably their biggest win so far this season after shocking the Lady Eagles in straight sets, 25-22, 25-14, 25-18, in their first round meeting in the UAAP Season 78 Women’s Volleyball Tournament earlier today at the Araneta Coliseum.

In addition to the end of DLSU’s six-game losing streak to ADMU, the game also saw Ateneo’s 24-game winning streak come to a close, a run that stretched back to the 2014 championship series.

La Salle team captain Kim Fajardo was the x-factor in the match, as she scored 13 points on seven service aces and had 16 excellent sets that won her Player of the Game honors. Ara Galang and Majoy Baron added 10 points apiece, while Mika Reyes added nine points in the victory.

Ateneo was led by Alyssa Valdez, who scored 11 points off 10 spikes, but she was the only Lady Eagle who reached double figures.

The first frame was tightly contested as both squads exchanged scores throughout the set. DLSU capitalized on the 11 errors Ateneo made to grab the lead later in the set, 24-22. Another Ateneo error, this time committed by Madie Madayag, gave La Salle the set, 25-22.

Fired up by the win, the Lady Spikers carried their newfound momentum to the second set. The Taft-based squad went on an 8-0 run to start the frame built on four service aces that rattled Ateneo. The Lady Eagles attempted a comeback but only got as close as six points. La Salle would coast the rest of the way to carry a two-set lead heading into the third set.

Not backing down, the defending champions took a five-point lead, 12-7, midway through the third set. However, the Lady Spikers went on a blazing 9-2 run to grab a 19-16 lead they would never relinquish. A 6-2 run by La Salle capped off the victory, which came on an offensive error by Jhoana Maraguinot.

The key stat of the game were the errors made by the Katipunan-based squad. They committed 22 errors, two of which led to set points. Valdez was also limited from her usual production, with her 11 points way below her 17-point average in her last six games. DLSU also had 13 service aces, seven of which came from Fajardo alone.

The Lady Spikers will close out their first round campaign against the UST Growling Tigresses, whom they will face this Wednesday, March 2, at 4 pm in the FilOil Arena. A victory would give DLSU first place in the season standings by virtue of holding the tiebreaker over Ateneo.