After a disappointing match against the NU Lady Bulldogs last Sunday, the DLSU Lady Spikers dominated the UE Lady Warriors in straight sets, 25-18, 25-17, 25-20, earlier today at the FilOil Flying V Center. La Salle improves to a 4-1 win-loss record, whereas the Lady Warriors remain winless at 0-5.
Aduke Ogunsanya was named player of the game after scoring 12 points, highlighted by a couple of aces. Meanwhile, Desiree Cheng and Majoy Baron contributed 13 points each in the winning effort. Mary Mendrez, on the other hand, top-scored for UE with 12 points on 10 spikes.
Strong start
Both DLSU and UE kicked off the first set neck-and-neck with neither team getting the upper hand, before Ogunsanya scored four straight points with the assistance of Michelle Cobb’s excellent sets.
The Lady Spikers would slowly gain the lead after the Lady Warriors committed several errors, failing to stop the former from generating points from spike kills. Following a service ace by Kim Dy, which extended the Green-and-White’s lead by eight, UE would attempt to close the point difference by going on a five-point run with Shaya Adorador leading the way with three attack points. Nevertheless, the Taft-based squad took the first set after proceeding to go on two three-point scoring runs, with Ogunsanya and Cheng bagging the last four points, 25-18.
Cheng started the second set scoring from an attack, giving La Salle the first point of the set. DLSU gained a four-point advantage after an attack point by May Luna. Adorador, Roselle Baliton, and Mary Mendez tried to shrink the gap of the Lady Warriors in multiple occasions but shared efforts by Cheng, Layug, Ogunsanya, and Baron ensured that the Lady Spikers would take a two to nothing set advantage, 25-17.
Smooth sailing ahead
La Salle continued to play strong in the third frame. Attacks from Luna and Baron opened a three-point lead for the Lady Spikers coming into the first technical timeout. The Lasallians further pushed their lead to five points, courtesy of Ogunsanya and reigning MVP Baron.
It seemed that UE could just not defend DLSU’s outside hitters, as it was a walk in the park for DLSU in a game where they had 43 attacks in total. Head coach Ramil De Jesus had the chance to field in his second stringers, Norielle Ipac, Arielle Layug, and CJ Saga in the lopsided game. DLSU would not look back and eventually sealed the set with a five-point lead over the Lady Warriors.
After last Sunday’s loss against NU, La Salle quickly returned to training. “It’s an eye-opener for us. Nakatulong yung training namin para sa players na maging aggressive pa kami,” said Ogunsanya after the win. “We hope to perform 100 percent na and to lessen our errors,” she added further as they prepare to face the AdU Lady Falcons on Saturday, February 24, at 4 pm at the same venue.
The scores:
DLSU 75 – Cheng 13, Baron 13, Ogunsanya 12 Luna 6, Dy 8, Layug 2, Tiamzon 1, Ipac 1, Macandili 0, Cobb 0 Instrella 0, Saga 0, Barroga 0, Tiu 0
UE 55 – Mendrez 12, Adorador 11, Rodriguez 5, Baliton 2, Arado 1, Abil 1, Catindig 0, Olarve 0, Sta. Maria 0, Camama 0, Bendong 0, Lopez 0, Santos 0
