SAN Beda overcame Lyceum of the Philippines’s fierce opening-set challenge to hammer out a 29-27, 25-13, 25-14 victory yesterday and join defending champion St. Benilde and San Sebastian on top in the women’s division of the 92nd NCAA volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan City.
Francesca Racraquin paced her team with 11 hits, while twins Nieza and Jiezela Viray combined for 16 points to help power the Red Spikers to their third victory in row that put them alongside the Lady Blazers and the Lady Stags at the helm.
Racraquin and the Virays stepped big in the first set when they had to parry every challenge launched by the Lady Pirates to survive the set.
It was enough to unnerve LPU, which wasn’t the same after the heartbreaking first set defeat and suffered their first loss against two wins.
Arellano University, for its part, barged into the magic four as it turned back Mapua, 25-17, 25-8, 18-25, 25-18, with team captain Rialen Sante and Mary Anne Esquerra spearheading the charge with 14 and 12 points.
It was the Lady Chiefs’ second win in three starts, which was good for a share of No. 4 with LPU and Jose Rizal.
In men’s action, Arellano U bested Mapua, 25-22, 25-19, 23-25, 25-21, to zoom to the top with a pristine 3-0 (win-loss) record.
John Joseph Cabillan fired 17 hits while Kevin Liberato and skipper Benrasid Latip contributed 15 and 13.
The Cardinals fell to 2-2.
Games today (Filoil Flying V Center)
8:30 a.m.- Perpetual Help vs EAC (jrs)
10 a.m.- Perpetual Help vs EAC (m)
11:30 a.m.- Perpetual Help vs EAC (w)
1 p.m.- Jose Rizal vs St. Benilde (w)
2:30 p.m.- Jose Rizal vs St. Benilde (m)