UAAP: Lady Spikers take on UST in pivotal first round finale

After pulling off a rousing win over defending champions Ateneo Lady Eagles last weekend, the DLSU Lady Spikers seem poised to close out the first round of the UAAP Season 78 Volleyball Tournament on a high note. However, standing in their way are the UST Growling Tigresses, who, despite their struggles, remain capable of taking down this season’s contenders.

Both teams will be aiming to close the first round of the tournament with a victory in today’s marquee match-up at 4 pm in the FilOil Arena in San Juan.

Since suffering a four-set loss to the NU Lady Bulldogs, the Lady Spikers won their last three matches, with the most recent victory coming against the Lady Eagles. They clobbered the defending champions in straight sets, 25-22, 25-14, 25-18, to end a six-game losing streak against Ateneo dating back to the 2014 finals.

Kim Fajardo was in top form during the match. She scored 13 points and had 16 excellent sets to earn Player of the Game honors. Majoy Baron and Ara Galang added 10 points apiece, while Mika Reyes had nine points, one of which came off a momentum swinging block on Ateneo star Alyssa Valdez.

Valdez was the only Lady Eagle in double figures as she was held to only 11 points in the game, six points below her 17-point average in the past six games.

The Growling Tigresses, meanwhile, have been struggling to put their season together. Currently ranked sixth in the standings with a 2-4 win-loss record, they lost their last game to the UP Lady Maroons in four sets, 25-19, 25-18, 16-25, 32-30.

Diana Carlos and Nicole Tiamzon combined for 29 points to power the Lady Maroons to victory. On the other end, Cherry Rondina and Ej Laure each scored 20 points for the Tigresses.

DLSU currently holds a five-game winning streak against the España-based squad, with their last defeat coming in their first-round encounter in Season 75, a loss that prevented La Salle from obtaining a regular-season sweep. It is also important to note that one of UST’s two wins in Season 78 came from NU, the only team that was able to defeat the Lady Spikers so far this season.

Though both teams are currently at the opposite ends of the season standings, a win would not only close the curtain on a thrilling first round, but the result of this afternoon’s match will also dictate who will have the momentum heading into the crucial stages of the tournament.