S87 Women's Volleyball: NU mauls UE in straight sets

UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Standings

Team W-L 

NU 4-0

UST 3-1 

UP 2-1 

AdU 2-2

FEU 1-2

DLSU 1-2

Ateneo 1-2

UE 0-4

Games on Sunday, March 2, 2025

(SM Mall of Asia Arena)

9 a.m. - DLSU vs UP (Men’s)

11 a.m. - FEU vs Ateneo (Men’s)

1 p.m. - DLSU vs UP (Women’s)

3 p.m. - FEU vs Ateneo (Men’s)

Undefeated National University took care of business against winless University of the East, taking a dominant 25-12, 25-11, 25-20 victory in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Saturday. 

The Lady Bulldogs raised their record to 4-0, staying as the last unbeaten squad in the eight-team field.

NU head coach Sherwin Meneses beamed with pride as his team was able to stop Khy Cepada, limiting her to just seven points on a measly 5-of-39 spiking clip.

“‘Yung opportunity na mai-stop si Cepada nga naging maganda especially si Erin Pangilinan nga ‘yung katapat niya. Overall naman teamwork naman, wala namang special na ginawa, ‘yung area lang namin ‘yung binabantayan namin. ,” said Meneses as prior to the game, Cepada was the third-best scorer in the league.

Compared to the first and second sets where they struggled to put up points, managing just 12 and 11 points, respectively, the Lady Warriors established a 13-11 lead in the third frame. 

However, the Lady Bulldogs’ 1-2 punch of Bella Belen and Vange Alinsug proved to be too much to handle, leading their 14-7 finisher to secure the win in just 77 minutes. 

“Kahit sinong kalaban namin, kailangan ‘yung effort na binibigay namin is 100 percent pa rin. Kumbaga, hindi dapat kami namimili ng kalaban and I’m very happy kasi naging team effort po ito, hindi lang isa ‘yung nagtrabaho para maipanalo,” said two-time MVP Belen, who went for 18 points on 14-of-25 attacks, three blocks, and an ace along with eight digs and six receptions. 

Alinsug added 10 points and 10 digs while Erin Pangilinan had eight points as well as NU goes into a lengthy break before returning on March 9 against University of the Philippines at the same venue. 

The Lady Bulldogs held a huge advantage in the spiking department, scoring 45 while limiting the Lady Warriors to just 16. 

Van Bangayan, who was the 11th-best scorer in the league prior to this play date, was held to just seven points as well as the Lady Warriors stayed winless after four outings to stay alone at the bottom of the standings. 

UE will next face Far Eastern University on Wednesday, also at the MOA Arena.

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team