The DLSU Lady and Green Spikers saw contrasting results in their final UAAP Beach Volleyball Tournament matchups. The former earned their first win of the season, defeating the UE Lady Warriors in straight sets, 21-15, 21-8, while the latter succumbed to the UP Fighting Maroons in three sets, 11-21, 21-18, 9-15, earlier today, November 24, at Sands SM by The Bay.
The Lady Spiker pair of Julianne Javelosa and Ella Raagas displayed their offensive synergy to outclass the Lady Warriors. Meanwhile, the Green Spiker duo of Andre Espejo and Von Marata fought hard for the Green-and-White, but they ultimately fell short to the Katipunan-based partnership.
Rising to the occasion
Both the DLSU Lady Spikers and UE Lady Warriors entered their final matchup determined to end the UAAP Season on a high note. The opening plays saw the two sides make an even start. The score quickly found itself level after even exchanges, 4-all. However, it was UE who surged ahead with multiple kills and attack errors from DLSU, 10-5. Refusing to back down, the Lasallians stepped up their game and put together their own run by improving their chemistry across the sand. The score was finally tied after three service aces from Raagas and an attack error from UE, 10-all. The lead switched back and forth between the teams, as both sides were prone to unforced errors. Eventually, La Salle began to build momentum through kills by Javelosa and attack errors from UE, finding themselves with a three-point lead, 16-13. At this point of the first set, the girls in green went full-throttle and took the first set after a 5-0 run, 21-15.
Aiming to replicate their success, the Lady Spikers opened the second set with a 4-0 run to stun the Lady Warriors. Javelosa and Raagas continued to display fluid chemistry along with solid floor defense to neutralize UE’s attacks. After a clever tip and service ace from Raagas, the Green-and-White were boosted to an eight-point lead, nullifying the Lady Warriors’ defense, 10-2. DLSU continued to dominate as the duo reached the technical timeout, 16-5. Immediately after, Javelosa hit two definitive kills down the line to hand La Salle an 18-6 advantage, rendering their opponents unresponsive to their attacks. To close the set, Javelosa and Raagas scored a point each before an attack error by UE sealed their victory, 21-8.
After putting in an impressive effort in their season-ender, Javelosa praised the teams efforts, saying “Siyempre pinaghirapan talaga namin yung panalo na yun, so sabi namin ‘last game, all-out na kami’ and we’ll give our all talaga.”
(Of course we worked hard for that win, we were saying that its the last game, we’ll go all out and give our all).
She also added that the team will be working towards improving over the next few months, stating “Definitely kailangan din namin mag gain more experience. Siguro, sasali pa kami sa more like outside leagues.”
(We definitely need to gain more experience. Most likely, we will join more outside leagues).
Final chase
As the sun further rose, the Green Spikers stepped foot on the sands with hopes of strengthening their Final Four bid in their matchup against the Fighting Maroons. The starting set witnessed intense point exchanges between the two teams, eventually cutting the Espejo-Marata favor, as they failed to stretch an early advantage to favor the Fighting Maroons at the first court switch, 5-2. Their opponents capitalized on La Salle’s inconsistent receptions, securing back-to-back service aces and a 4-0 run for the Fighting Maroons while the men in green were forced to call a timeout, 9-3. Marata stepped up for the mighty Taft towers with a kill block followed by a fiery cross-court hit, boosting the Green Spikers’ spirit, 14-7. Despite his efforts, the Fighting Maroons maintained their lead and eventually penetrated the Lasallian walls with a through-the-block hit after the final exchange of points, ending the set in favor of UP, 21-11.
The second set kicked off with a blazing straight-down spike delivered by Espejo, who clinched an early game revenge for the Green Spikers, 1-0. However, the tactical attacks of the maroons continued, brilliantly placing drop attacks and outsmarting the Lasallian defense. After early rallies, the Green Spikers finally seized their first lead after successfully guarding the target spot of the maroons, 6-4. Yet even with a two-point advantage, the Green Spikers were challenged as they dimmed from an extended lead, 8-all. Espejo stepped up with a crucial 3-0 run, showcasing his offensive abilities at the net and the service line to bring La Salle to a four-point advantage, 16-12. Their runs steered their morale, advancing the might of Espejo-Marata as they sealed the set with a solid Marata set up to a block-breaking Espejo finish, 21-18.
The Green-and-White headed into the deciding set with a strong start by Marata, who dropped a heavy down-the-line hit, 1-0. The Fighting Maroons made it challenging for the Green Spikers, responding with offensive plays and winning the early advantage at the first court switch, 6-4. In a hard attempt to overthrow the maroon fighters, the Green Spikers ran out of juice, scattering multiple errors at the height of the set. As their mistakes mounted, the Lasallians struggled to regain their momentum, conceding the match with a failed chase from a strong maroon service and letting go of a Final Four spot, 15-9.
Despite their disappointment in missing a Final Four spot, Espejo remained grateful for the support the team has received from the Lasallian community and assured the fans of a stronger showing next season. “Since nag start yung UAAP season andun na yung mga supporters, and until matapos yung UAAP namin, nandito pa rin yung supporters namin. Thank you for always supporting us and giving us the strength and energy na nakapaglaro [to] our maximum capabilities. We will assure na Season 88 will be much more different.
(Since the UAAP season started, our supporters were there until the season ended. Thank you for always supporting us and giving us the strength and energy for us to play to our maximum capabilities. We will assure that Season 88 will be much more different).
