S87 Girls' Volleyball: NU, Adamson cruise past foes to extend streaks

UAAP Season 87 High School Volleyball Standings

Boys'

UST 6-0

UE 5-1

NUNS 5-1

FEU-D 3-3

AdU 3-3

DLSZ 2-4

Ateneo 0-6

UPIS 0-6

Girls'

NUNS 5-1

FEU-D 4-1

UST 4-1

AdU 4-2

DLSZ 2-4

UPIS 1-5

Ateneo 0-6

Games on Saturday

(Paco Arena)

9 a.m. - NUNS vs UE (Boys')

11 a.m. - FEU-D vs UST (Boys')

1 p.m. - UST vs FEU-D (Girls')

NATIONAL University Nazareth School cruised to its fourth consecutive win in the UAAP Season 87 High School Girls' Volleyball tournament following a rousing 25-10, 25-14, 25-17 straight-set victory past De La Salle-Zobel on Wednesday at the Paco Arena in Manila.

The Lady Bullpups moved out of the logjam with the solo lead at 5-1, just above the Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws and the University of Santo Tomas Junior Golden Tigresses, which are both at 4-1.

UST and FEU-D will close the first round of eliminations in the Girls' Division on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Lady Bullpups needed to fend off a late surge from the Junior Lady Spikers in the fifth set, finishing the 65-minute match with a 5-2 run with setters Rihanna Chris Navarro and Lyzel Peñol finding their points of attack. 

"Maganda sa 'min kasi na kahit nag-a-adjust pa 'yung buong team, nakakuha kami ng mga win. So, expect namin this second round na magiging mas mahirap siya. Magiging mas challenging siguro sa part namin; kailangan lang naming mas mag-prepare rin siguro," said NUNS' returning head coach Karl Dimaculangan.

With a mix of holdovers and a new breed of talents, Dimaculangan praised how his wards stepped up to the challenge but hopes that this would continue especially heading into the next phase.

He said, "Since naka-gain na ng lessons 'yung team pagkatapos nitong first round, malaking bagay na 'yung preparation namin and 'yung magiging mentality namin coming into the second round. Since expected namin na mahihirapan kami, ganun pa man, magpe-prepare kami para 'yung confidence nung mga bata isa madagdagan."

Denesse Daylisan paced the Lady Bullpups with 16 points on 11 attacks, including a crucial kill in the third set to keep her squad ahead, and five aces -- most of which came in the first set, setting the tone for the contest. Daylisan also collected six digs and five receptions.

Diza Berayo backstopped Daylisan with nine points on seven kills and two blocks, while Jenelyn Jacob added eight in two sets of play. Peñol racked up nine excellent sets off the bench, following Navarro's lead with seven.

DLSZ captain and outside hitter Aislinn Alemania finished in double figures for her squad with 10 points on 10 kills, two of which came in that third-set fightback, while former skipper Sabine Valdez produced seven markers.

In the final match of the day, defending champion Adamson University made a 50-minute quick work of Ateneo, 25-6, 25-18, 25-8 to end the round with a 4-2 win-loss record and in solo fourth.

Sam Cantada took charge of the titleholders with 12 points, seven of which came from back-breaking aces that put the squad in a prime position for a counterattack. Janna Dizon added eight markers, including three blocks, while Sofia Arasan ended with seven excellent sets and five points on four aces.

Althea Ramos collected four points for the Blue Eagles, two of them on blocks, both occurring in that second-set run, as Frances Landignon produced three markers and three digs.

DLSZ remains outside of the Final Four picture in fifth with a 2-4 win-loss record to finish the first round, while Ateneo is still searching for its breakthrough win this season at 0-6.

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team File Photos