Lady Spikers regain championship, Green Spikers finish sixth

It was a tale of contrasting performances for DLSU’s volleyball teams in UAAP Season 78 as the two squads found themselves in very different positions at the end of their respective campaigns during this season’s volleyball tournament.

The Lady Spikers, after two consecutive runner-up finishes, were finally able to end their title jinx this year, winning the championship against perennial tormentors, the ADMU Lady Eagles. Meanwhile, the Green Spikers found themselves out of the playoff picture once again, landing in sixth place among the eight competing schools.

Entering the season as one of favorites to win it all, the Lady Spikers wasted no time in proving their status as title contenders. They finished the first round of eliminations with a 5-2 win-loss record, good enough for second place. Among their victories was a huge win over two-time champion Ateneo. However, they suffered tough losses to NU and UST that prevented them from getting the top spot in the standings.

Once the second round began, the team shifted into higher gear as they didn’t allow any let-ups this time around. The Lady Spikers went on a five-game win streak to start the latter half of the tournament, with many of their victories coming in sweeps. Unfortunately for the team, they were unable to wrestle the first place standing from Ateneo after losing to them in their second encounter in five thrilling sets.

Seeded second in the Final Four, the Lady Spikers faced a tough FEU Lady Tamaraws side in the semi-finals. Their opponents were able to nullify the Taft-based squad’s twice-to-beat advantage after winning the first game of the series in five sets. Unfazed by the defeat, La Salle swept FEU in the second match to rearrange yet another slugfest with the Lady Eagles in the finals.

Mirroring the outcome of their elimination round games, DLSU would take the first game of the championship series in a resounding sweep, while Ateneo would need all five sets to tie the series at 1-1. Forced into a rubber match for the title, the Lady Spikers surrendered the first set to the Lady Eagles before grabbing the next three frames of the game to clinch their ninth championship in the UAAP.

Several Lady Spikers earned individual distinctions at the end of the season. Dawn Macandili headlined the list after being named this season’s Best Digger and Best Receiver. Kim Fajardo was adjudged as the league’s Best Setter, while Majoy Baron was the Season 78 Best Blocker. Kim Dy completed the list after she earned the Finals MVP award.

The Green Spikers opened their season with a win after defeating the UE Red Warriors in straight sets, 25-18, 28-26, 26-24. However, they were unable to follow through on the victory, as they struggled throughout the rest of the first round, ending with a win-loss record of 1-6.

Similar to the first round, the Green Spikers had a strong start in the second round as they won three straight matches against the UP Fighting Maroons, the FEU Tamaraws, and the UST Growling Tigers. Their win streak was snapped after bowing to the AdU Soaring Falcons in five sets, 25-17, 21-25, 25-19, 20-25, 13-15, followed by two straight losses against the ADMU Blue Eagles and the NU Bulldogs. Despite this, La Salle was able to close their season on a high note as they once again beat UE in three sets, 25-16, 25-15, 25-18.

Despite their subpar showing as a team, team captain Raymark Woo was still able to prove that he was one of the best players in the UAAP after being named the tournament’s Best Scorer, highlighted by a 39-point outburst against Adamson in the second round.