The UP Women’s Volleyball Team (UPWVT) achieved a stunning victory against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 volleyball tournament.
The UPWVT outlasted the Lady Archers in five thrilling sets 26-24, 18-25, 19-25, 25-22, and 16-14 on April 13 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
With DLSU at set point, 24-21, the UP Fighting Maroons, led by Kassandra Doering, scored five consecutive points to take the extended first set. The Lady Archers, however, came back strong and dominated the second and third sets, taking a 2-1 lead in the match.
UPWVT and DLSU then had a nip-and-tuck affair early in the fourth set, but Doering, Joan Monares, and Kianne Olango propelled the UPWVT to the much-needed separation from the DLSU in the latter part of the set. The UP Fighting Maroons got the set point (24-20) on a net violation committed DLSU’s Jyne Soreño. DLSU, however, scored two consecutive points to trim the UPWVT’s lead to two points, 22-24. In the succeeding rally, Monares scored on a cross-court attack to close out the fourth frame and sent the game into a decider set.
The two squads engaged in another a back-and-forth battle at the beginning of the concluding set. With the score tied at four apiece, the UP Fighting Maroons, led by the steady playmaking of Jaz Manguilimotan and the consistent attacks of Doering and Olango, made a nine-to-six run to establish a 13-10 lead. DLSU then, through Shevana Laput’s power attacks, came within a point.
In the next play, DLSU’s Amie Provido committed a service error to give the UP Fighting Maroons the match point, 14-12. DLSU refused to go down without a fight as Angel Canino scored two consecutive points to knot the score at 14 all and extend the set.
The UPWVT then showed composure in the crucial moments of the game. Doeing scored on a quick play, and Monares punctuated the game with a cross-court attack to give the much-needed win for the UP Fighting Maroons.
Monares led the UP Fighting Maroons with 16 points, while Doering and Olango contributed 15 points and 14 points, respectively. Manguilimotan had a superb game dishing 24 excellent sets and scoring three points coming from two service aces and an attack.
UPWVT’s next game against the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses is scheduled on April 23, 1 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.