University of the Philippines fell short against Ateneo de Manila University in a highly-contested five-set match, 26-15, 23-25, 25-27, 32-30, 14-16, in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament, Saturday, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
With this loss, the Fighting Maroons and the Blue Eagles, together with the Adamson Lady Falcons, are now in a three-way tie in the standings with a 3-5 win-loss record, after Adamson swept the UE Lady Warriors in the earlier game.
The first set was a breeze for the ladies from Diliman, where they played an almost flawless set, tallying only one error. Although the Blue Eagles out-attacked the Fighting Maroons during this set at 13 to 12, UP out-blocked Ateneo, tallying 3 kill blocks versus zero. This, aside from the 9 errors from the blue side, and a service ace from UP’s Irah Jaboneta.
The succeeding four sets proved to be highly contested, as the final scores for all remaining sets were won by a 2-point margin, with sets 3 to 5 being extended sets. During the 3rd set, UP already arrived at set point, 24-22, but the Blue Eagles staged a 5-1 run to steal the set from UP. The Fighting Maroons also arrived at set point first during the fourth set at 24-23, courtesy of a joust won by Joan Monares, but Ateneo was able to extend the set, before an Ateneo net touch and a Kassy Doering block gave the Fighting Maroons the set win to extend the game to a fifth and deciding set.
During the fifth set, Ateneo was already leading 11-7, but the Fighting Maroons staged a 6-0 run during the service of Kianne Olango to advance the score to 11-13. A net touch against the Fighting Maroons halted this run, but a quick hit from Niña Ytang sent the team to match point at 14-12. However, Ateneo fought back with their own 4-0 run, starting from back-to-back kills from outside hitter Zey Pacia, and back-to-back errors from the Fighting Maroons to seal the win.
But before the final buzzer was made, there was a long lull as UP challenged the final call made by the referee for antenna touch. After the long deliberation of the UAAP’s technical committee, the point was officially awarded to the Blue Eagles.
All starting players, sans the libero and setter for both teams, tallied double digit points in this match that lasted for 2 hours and 41 minutes.
Ateneo’s team captain Lyann De Guzman was hailed as the player of the game after tallying 25 points from 23 attacks, 1 service ace and 1 kill block, along with 14 digs and 17 excellent receptions. Her output was supported by converted opposite spiker AC Miner, who raked in 19 points from 17 attacks and 2 kill blocks.
UP’s veteran middle blocker Niña Ytang was the top scorer for the Fighting Maroons for the second straight match, as she had a season-high 24 points, from 19 attacks, 4 kill blocks, and a service ace. Her diagonal, Kassy Doering, also had a season high of 15 points, from 5 kill blocks, also her season high, and on top of her 10 attacks. Outside hitter Irah Jaboneta finished with another triple double performance, contributing 20 points from 17 attacks, two kill blocks and a service ace, and was a steady floor defender with 10 digs, and 13 excellent receptions.
The Fighting Maroons will try to bounce back when they face the defending champions and still undefeated NU Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday, 11AM at the Filoil Ecooil Center in San Juan City, while the Blue Eagles will seek to get a streak going as they battle the Adamson Lady Falcons on Saturday, 1PM at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
This UP Fighting Maroons Club post is made in partnership with Jiang Nan Hotpot.
