ATENEO, with four players churning out double-digit outputs, blasted a listless Jose Rizal U side in three, 25-17, 25-15, 25-15, to seize the early lead in Group A of the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan Saturday evening.
Skipper Bea de Leon lived up to her billing as she led the Lady Eagles with 14 hits while Kat Tolentino scored 11 hits and Juliane Samonte and Madeleine Madayag added 10 hits apiece as the Katipunan-based squad dominated the Lady Bombers all throughout their 65-minute encounter. Ateneo had 45 spikes against JRU’s 22 and made nine aces against the Lady Bombers’ four.
So dominating were the Lady Eagles that they produced seven blocks, including four from Madayag, while holding their rivals to a rare zero output in that department.
Shola Alvarez, a veteran of the Reinforced and Open Conferences, and Karen Montojo had nine points each while Dolly Versoza made seven points for the Kalentong-based school.
In an earlier match Arellano U overwhelmed St. Benilde in a duel of the reigning and former NCAA champions, coming away with an emphatic 25-20, 25-22, 25-17 victory.
Jovielyn Prado blasted in14 hits, spearheading the Lady Chiefs’ attack against the Lady Blazes, whom they beat in the stepladder semifinals on their way to nailing their second NCAA women’s volley crown early this year.
Mary Anne Esguerra backed Prado with 13 markers while Necole Ebuen and Reginal Arocha chipped in nine points apiece and Andrea Marzan added six hits.
Arellano coach Obet Javier credited their early surge to his wards’ stints in the recent PVL Reinforced and Open Conferences of the league organized by Sports Vision.
“I told them to use their PVL experience and help motivate their younger teammates,” said Javier, referring to veterans Prado, Esguerra, Arocha and Marzan.