University of the East’s Casiey Dongallo is no ordinary rookie.

Her lean frame belying her leaping and hitting abilities, Dongallo has been doing great in her first three games, earning raves from almost everybody including respected coaches in the UAAP women’s volleyball.

Over the weekend, she was spectacular.

She set a new rookie scoring record with her 30-point output against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws. 

The Lady Warriors lost that game – their second in a row since winning the opening match – but Dongallo provided the fireworks that not only entertained the crowd but also awed the Lady Tamaraws.

The 18-year-old product of California Academy (CAL) in Antipolo broke reigning rookie-MVP Angelo Canino’s previous record of 28 points from last year to propel herself to the top of the candidate as the tournament’s best. 

And perhaps the next Alyssa Valdez – long considered the queen of PH volleyball.

Valdez morphed into one of the promising volleyball players during her days at Ateneo.

Her first of probably many 30-point performances, however, should challenge her teammates to work harder and play as one big unit as she could not win games for UE by herself.

She understands it very well that there are lots of works to be done to be able to sail smoothly.

“I think this game would be a lesson for us na marami pa talaga kaming iwo-work on as a team,” Dongallo said who scored 27 points in her first UAAP game that saw UE take down Ateneo in four sets for the first time in nearly 14 years. 

“Marami pang aayusin sa training lalo na ‘yung team work. Kasi malalaki ‘yung kalaban namin kaya kailangan mabilisin at paganahin lahat [ng nasa court],” she said. 

Dongallo, though, is pleased to see UE’s new system working against early contenders National University and Far Eastern University in the first round of the tournament despite the back-to-back defeats. 

“Nakaka-boost ng confidence knowing na UE has a new system tapos nawala pa yung key player namin si Jelai [Gajero]. Dumidikit na kami sa ibang malalakas na team compared before. Parang nakaka-build confidence. Until unti na nakikita ‘yung progress ng UE,” she said. 

The Cebuana outside hitter also had her longtime teammate and setter Kizzie Madriaga to thank for trusting her since high school all the way through their collegiate debut.

“Sa totoo lang, hindi ko ‘yun magagawa without Kizzie kasi kung wala ‘yung tiwala niya sa akin na kaya kong pumuntos, hindi ko magagawa yung ganung performance. So yung tiwala niya na bigyan ako ng sets na ganoon karami is palaging andiyan,” she said. 

Will she be Valdez heiress apparent?

There are other pretenders and newcomers who possess Valdez’s spiking prowess, but one has to the have charisma and discipline to become the next big thing in volleyball.