Ateneo came alive and took its first victory with a 25-16, 25-14, 25-14 routing of Far Eastern University in the UAAP Season 84 women's volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Thursday, May 12.
The Blue Eagles finally barged into the win column behind the efforts of Faith Nisperos, Lyann De Guzman, Alexis Miner, and Vannie Gandler.
Nisperos topscored for the Eagles, who snapped their three-game skid, with 11 attacks and two service aces for 14 points, De Guzman fired nine spikes and three service aces for 12 markers, while Miner and Gandler scored seven points apiece.
But it was Jaja Maraguinot who spelled the difference and orchestrated the plays for Ateneo on the court after tossing 14 of the team's 15 excellent sets apart from her three points.
"Of course, we’re happy na nasa win column na kami," said Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro. "I’m not saying naman na sobrang lungkot namin in the past few games but alam namin na we are going up e, talagang may instances lang na we really have to recover right away."
Momentum sided with the Blue Eagles after a strong showing in the opening canto, coming in blazing in the second set to lead by as many as 13 points, 21-8, and never looked back at that point.
Ateneo pulled away for good in the third and final frame and rebuilt another nine-point gap before Miner and Nisperos connived down the stretch to ice the match.
FEU also remained scoreless from the service line as Ateneo team captain Dani Ravena and Maraguinot joined forces for 21 of their 44 excellent digs.
Chen Tagaod was the lone bright spot for the Lady Tamaraws, who sustained a 1-3 record, but was limited to 10 points only on top nine attacks.