The DLSU Lady Spikers began their bid for back-to-back titles, while the Green Spikers started their journey towards improving on last season’s seventh place finish at the UAAP Season 79 Beach Volleyball Tournament, which commenced last Saturday, October 1, at the MOA Sands by the Bay.
Representing the Lady Spikers in this season’s tournament are Ernestine Tiamzon, Desiree Cheng, and reserve player Kim Fajardo. Cris Dumago, Wayne Marco and reserve player Levin Dimayuga are currently donning the Green-and-White in the men’s division.
Lady Spikers face high hurdles
The Lady Spikers now hold a 3-3 win-loss record after the first three days of tournament action. Their first game was against the FEU Lady Tamaraws where they lost the first set, 21-19, but bounced back in the next two sets to clinching victory, 21-15, 15-11. Tiamzon and Cheng failed to sustain momentum as they succumbed to the UP Lady Maroons afterwards, 21-18, 21-15.
Looking to bounce back in the second day of the tournament, La Salle first faced UST. The Growling Tigresses clinched a two-set win, 21-15, 21-16, to deal the Lady Spikers their second consecutive loss. DLSU managed to bounce back in the afternoon game. Tiamzon and Cheng banked on a strong start to outwork the NU Lady Bulldogs and take victory in two sets, 21-15, 21-16.
The following day, they took on the AdU Lady Falcons, but succumbed in a thrilling three-set match, 24-22, 21-16, 15-13. In the defeat, veteran Kim Fajardo replaced Cheng, who was suffering from asthma . Later in the day, the Lady Spikers dominated the UE Lady Warriors. UE managed to stay close throughout the first set, which ended with a score of 21-15 in favor of La Salle. The defending champions displayed a virtuoso performance in the second set, routing the Lady Warriors, 21-11.
Expectations set for the team were not as high despite the team coming in as the defending champions. Assistant coach Noel Orcullo explained, “Sa amin kasi, since parehas silang bago, sabi ko nga, hindi naman ganun kataas expectation ko.”
Struggles continue for Green Spikers
The Green Spikers struggled in their search for a win in the first couple of days of the tournament. However, by the end of the third day, they managed to break into the win column after defeating the UE Red Warriors in a gruelling three-set match.
DLSU succumbed to the FEU Tamaraws and UP Fighting Maroons in the first day. The Tamaraws snatched the first set from La Salle, 12-21. However, the duo of Dumago and Marco came back by claiming the next set, 21-15. Despite the comeback, the Green Spikers bowed to FEU in a thrilling third set with a score of 14-16. The Fighting Maroons managed to rout La Salle in straight sets, 21-13, 21-19.
The following day, the UST Growling Tigers and NU Bulldogs managed to snag two-set wins to keep the Green Spikers winless after four games . The Growling Tigers dominated the Lasallians in two sets. Although the Green-and-White was able to keep up with UST at the start of each set, Dumago and Marco were unable to counter Anthony Guzman and KR Arbasto’s attacks. The latter pair eventually pulled away midway through each set to take victory, 21-13, 21-12. DLSU concluded the second competition also with another two-set defeat, this time to the NU Bulldogs, 21-10, 21-15.
The third day yielded different results for the Green-and-White squad. Although the Green Spikers faced another defeat in their game against the AdU Soaring Falcons, 21-13, 21-15, they were able to outhustle the Red Warriors in three sets. The first set went to La Salle, 21-18, but UE took the second one at 21-18 to force a third set. The Green Spikers clinched their first win of the tournament as they claimed the final set, 15-7.
The DLSU Spikers will conclude their respective elimination round campaigns on Friday, October 7, at the MOA Sands by the Bay versus their counterparts from ADMU. The Green Spikers will face the Blue Eagles at 9:30 am while the Lady Spikers are scheduled to play the Lady Eagles afterwards at 11:30 am.
