The road to the Final Four continues for DLSU’s volleyball teams as their jam-packed week begins tomorrow, March 16, at the FilOil Arena. The Green Spikers will return to the courts at 10 am, when they face the UST Growling Tigers, while the Lady Spikers will end the day with a 3:30 pm match-up against the UP Lady Maroons. Both squads are currently on a roll as they seek to improve on their current two-game winning streaks.
For the Lady Spikers, it has been an exemplary season so far. With a record of seven wins and two losses, they come in at second place, right behind the Ateneo Lady Eagles. Their opponent for tomorrow’s game, however, is not that far behind. Coming in at third in the standings, the UP Lady Maroons’ aggressive play has placed them just behind the top teams in the league.
Meanwhile, the Green Spikers have their hands full as well. Although the Growling Tigers are just a place higher than La Salle with a record of 4-5, they come into this game with momentum as well after beating Adamson last Saturday. With a dismal record of three wins and six losses, a win tomorrow might be the catalyst the Green Spikers need to turn their season around.
Lady Spikers’ hot streak
The Lady Spikers were in tip-top shape in their last outing against the Golden Tigresses, defeating them in straight sets, 25-11, 25-13, 25-17, last Saturday.
Kim Dy spearheaded the DLSU onslaught with 12 points on 10 attacks on her way to winning Player of the Game honors. Ara Galang and Mika Reyes each had 11 points, while Dawn Macandili put on an excellent display on defense, getting 29 excellent digs to stifle the UST attack. Not a single UST player was able to reach double figures in scoring.
Meanwhile, the Lady Maroons added another page to their magical run this season as they triumphed over the Adamson Lady Falcons in three thrilling sets, 25-23, 25-22, 25-22, for their fourth straight win this season.
Diana Carlos and Kathy Bersola were the stars of the match as the duo combined for 24 points and 20 of the team’s 43 attacks. The victory not only solidified UP’s spot in the standings, but it also cemented their status as title contenders despite nearly half the team entering this season as rookies.
La Salle breezed past the Diliman-based squad in four sets, 25-14, 25-13, 19-25, 25-20, in their first meeting of the year held at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Leaning on a balanced attack that saw five players reach double-digit scoring numbers, the Lady Spikers also relied on Kim Fajardo’s 41 excellent set-ups, more than double of UP’s 20 in that game. Freshman player Isa Molde led the Lady Maroons with 15 points in the loss.
Green Spikers’ steady resurgence
With the momentum gained from defeating the UP Fighting Maroons, the Green Spikers took their second straight win after fending off the FEU Tamaraws in four sets, 26-24, 19-25, 25-23, 25-21 last weekend.
Green Spikers team captain Raymark Woo led the team with a game-high 22 points on 18 attacks and three service aces, while Arjay Onia added 12 points from nine attacks, two aces, and a block.
![DSC_1532 []](http://thelasallian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/DSC_1532--705x470.jpg)
The Green Spikers accumulated 38 excellent attacks, seven blocks, eight service aces, and 30 unforced errors against FEU’s 50 attacks, eight blocks, five aces, and 42 costly errors.
On the other hand, the UST Growling Tigers are on a winning streak of their own as they emerged victorious in straight sets from their most recent match against the AdU Soaring Falcons, 26-24, 25-23, 25-23.
Manuel Andrei Medina and Jason Sarabia helped lead their team to victory with 15 and 13 points, respectively.
With only a handful of games left before the Final Four, both teams cannot afford to drop any of their matches. Having already eclipsed their win total in the first round, the Green Spikers seem to have found the winning formula that can help them climb the standings and hopefully into the knockout rounds. Though they are in a more comfortable position, the Lady Spikers cannot let up as one of the keys to their success has been sustaining the cohesive play that has helped them clinch seven wins so far this season.
