Defending champion National University outhustled Ateneo, 21-25, 28-30, 25-14, 25-13, 15-13, to clinch the twice-to-beat semifinal incentive in UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball Saturday, April 29, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon did the heavy lifting by combining for 51 points as the Lady Bulldogs finished the eliminations with an 11-3 record at second. Belen unleashed 25 kills to finish with 26 points while Solomon fired 22 attacks for 25 points. Three other players pumped in double-digit outings for NU with Sheena Toring and Erin Pangilinan adding 13 points each including combined eight blocks. Cess Robless also chipped in 11 points. NU’s victory also pushed Ateneo to wrap up its campaign with a 4-10 slate, missing out on the Final Four for the first time in 14 years. After trailing by two sets, the Lady Bulldogs finally regained their composure and destroyed the Blue Eagles in the next two frames for force a decider. They unloaded a 4-0 run for an early 6-3 lead in the fifth set before Takako Fujimoto and Vanie Gandler stepped up for Ateneo to keep the game close. But Belen was there to the rescue for NU with hard-hitting attacks to seal the victory. Graduating players Gandler and Faith Nisperos scored 20 and 17 points in a losing cause for the Blue Eagles, while Lyann De Guzman had 12 points.
*Bella Belen scores for the NU Lady Bulldogs. (UAAP Images)
*Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon did the heavy lifting by combining for 51 points as the Lady Bulldogs finished the eliminations with an 11-3 record at second. Belen unleashed 25 kills to finish with 26 points while Solomon fired 22 attacks for 25 points. Three other players pumped in double-digit outings for NU with Sheena Toring and Erin Pangilinan adding 13 points each including combined eight blocks. Cess Robless also chipped in 11 points. NU’s victory also pushed Ateneo to wrap up its campaign with a 4-10 slate, missing out on the Final Four for the first time in 14 years. After trailing by two sets, the Lady Bulldogs finally regained their composure and destroyed the Blue Eagles in the next two frames for force a decider. They unloaded a 4-0 run for an early 6-3 lead in the fifth set before Takako Fujimoto and Vanie Gandler stepped up for Ateneo to keep the game close. But Belen was there to the rescue for NU with hard-hitting attacks to seal the victory. Graduating players Gandler and Faith Nisperos scored 20 and 17 points in a losing cause for the Blue Eagles, while Lyann De Guzman had 12 points.