Defending champion National University will get its chance for redemption when it meets rival De La Salle for the second time this week to begin the second-round hostilities of the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Saturday, March 25, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The revenge-seeking Lady Bulldogs, who fell 5-2 in the standings at third, are out to bounce back following their 25-10, 25-15, 25-22 beating at the hands of the Lady Spikers last March 22.
It was the first time since the Round 2 of Season 81 in 2019 that NU fell to La Salle in straight sets.
Surprising yet unwelcome, the La Salle side, which swept the first round with a 7-0 slate, will be all up in its arms in their 5 p.m. encounter with NU.
Super rookie Angel Canino carried out the team-high performance in the swift victory for La Salle after rekindling her personal rivalry with Season 84 Rookie-Most Valuable Player Bella Belen, who was the lone bright spot for NU in the loss.
In the first offering of the quadruple header, Ateneo (2-5) will cash in on the winless University of the East’s low morale in their 9 a.m. tussle.
The Blue Eagles snapped their four-game slide at the expense of University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons to end their first round campaign.
However, the Lady Warriors will double down on their efforts for a breakthrough to end their 0-7 misery in the first part of the season.
In the next play, Adamson and University of Santo Tomas, sharing an identical 5-2 card at second and fourth in the standings, respectively, will be battling it out at 11:00 a.m.
The Lady Falcons breezed through the Golden Tigress in their first-round meeting and are looking to duplicate the same result for the second time around.
On the other hand, Far Eastern University is also seeking for a repeat when it collides with UP at 3 p.m.
The Lady Tamaraws (3-4) will be holding their first round win against the Fighting Maroons (1-6) over their heads as they seek to rejoin the win column after suffering defeat from the reigning champion when they closed out the previous round.