College of St. Benilde survived a tight opening set before it hammered down Arellano, 26-24, 25-12, 25-9, Friday for a title sweep in NCAA women’s volleyball at The Arena in San Juan City.
It was a perfect season for the Lady Blazers, having won all nine games in the eliminations for an outright finals berth before sweeping their best-of-three finals series against the Lady Chiefs.
They won Game 1, 25-21, 25-11, 25-10, last Wednesday.
Overall, the Lady Blazers only dropped a single set throughout the season.
St. Benilde not only reclaimed the title it last won in the 2015-2016 season but also dethroned three-time champion Arellano in a dominant fashion.
However, it wasn’t smooth sailing for the Lady Blazers as they wasted two set-point advantages before banking on their net defense to take the opening frame.
They quickly regained their formidable form and played like a well-oiled machine in the next two frames, particularly in the third set, where they pulled away from a 13-3 lead for good.
“Eto po yung trabahong gusto naming tapusin and finally nakamit na namin,” said skipper Mycah Go, who unleashed a service ace that sealed their victory.
Gayle Pascual, who was adjudged Finals Most Valuable Player, and Jade Gentapa lifted the Lady Blazers with 14 and 11 points, while Cristy Ondangan chipped in 10 points.
Go, who was earlier named the Season MVP and first Best Outside Spiker, finished with eight points.
It was a heartbreaking defeat for Arellano, which failed to regain its bearings in the last two sets particularly in the defensive department after managing only two blocks compared to St. Benilde’s 12.
Only Pauline De Guzman finished in double figures for the Lady Chiefs with 10 points.
Meanwhile, San Sebastian’s Katherine Santos also shared the podium as Rookie of the Year awardee along with teammate Reyann Canete (Best Opposite Spiker), Lyceum’s Venice Puzon (Best Setter) and Zonxi Dahab (first Best Middle Blocker), Jose Rizal University’s Dolly Versoza (second Best Outside Spiker), Mapua’s Alyanna Nicole Ong (second Best Middle Blocker), and Emilio Aguinaldo College’s Alex Salvaloza (Best Libero).