The DLSU Lady Spikers returned to to their winning ways after dismantling the UE Lady Warriors earlier today at the FilOil Flying V Centre in straight sets, 25-18, 25-20, 25-18. With the win, the Lady Spikers now sport a 4-2 win-loss record.
Rookie Jolina Dela Cruz spearheaded the team from Taft after recording 14 points built on nine attacks, two blocks, and a service ace. Meanwhile, in the losing effort of the Lady Warriors, Judith Abil contributed eight points from 52 attempts.
After their first back-to-back loss last week, Lady Spiker Ernestine Tiamzon shared that head coach Ramil De Jesus told the team the following, “Kalimutan na lahat. Focus tayo sa game natin against UE and start tayo from there.”
(Forget everything that happened, let’s focus on our game against UE and let’s start from there.)
Slowly regaining the winning way
From the get go, the Lady Spikers wasted no time in the first set. DLSU dominated the Lady Warriors, 8-5, before the first technical timeout after a kill from Lourdes Clemente. The momentum clearly favored the Taft-based squad as they prevented UE from taking the lead. La Salle would get the first set, 25-18, following three consecutive points, two of which coming from unforced errors by the Lady Warriors.
Regaining their composure, UE led in the early portions of the second set from their successful attack attempts. The Lady Warriors extended their lead to seven points after a defensive stop against La Salle, 10-3. This did not last long, however, as DLSU tied the game at 15 points each when Tiamzon converted her spike attempt.
The Lady Spikers then rallied toward the end of the second set by going on a 6-0 run, capped off by back-to-back service aces by Dela Cruz and eventually bringing her team within set point, 24-18. UE then tried to mount a comeback scoring two consecutive points to keep DLSU at bay, 24-20. Although, it wasn’t enough as Clemente immediately closed the set with a kill block, 25-20.
Finishing strong
The start of the third set was a seesaw battle between the two squads. Tiamzon attacked the defense of the Lady Warriors to ignite the fire within the Lady Spikers. From then, the team from Taft had a 5-0 run to help them get back the lead, 13-11. Lady Warrior Seth Rodriguez’s net touch violation halted the needed momentum of the squad from Recto. Afterwards, Luna converted back-to-back service aces off the bench to give DLSU the lead at 21-17. A smart attack by Dela Cruz sealed the victory for the Lasallians, 25-18.
When asked about their coming rematch against the Season 80 runners up, the FEU Lady Tamaraws, Tiamzon shared that the Lady Spikers will focus on that said game. “Everything that we do in training, everything we do outside and inside the court—focus talaga [on] that game [against FEU], Tiamzon remarked.”
The Lady Spikers will look to end the first round of elimination with a win against the Lady Tamaraws on Saturday, March 16, at 4 pm at the same venue.
The scores:
DLSU (75) – Dela Cruz 14, Tiamzon 10, Clemente 8, Ogunsanya 7, Alba 4, Luna 4, Cobb 2, Saga 0
UE (56) – Abil 8, Mendrez 8, Olarve 8, Rodriguez 5, Gabarda 3, Alcayde 2, Bendong 1, Baliton 1, Manabat 0, Babol 0, Arado 0
