No Alyssa Valdez, no problem.
Ateneo still showed its ferocity in its first year without star player Valdez after topping the first-round eliminations of the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.
The Lady Eagles carded a 6-1 win-loss record highlighted by a convincing 26-24, 26-24, 21-25, 25-17 victory over reigning champions and nemesis La Salle Lady Spikers over the weekend.
Their only loss came at the expense of National University in four sets.
Ateneo assistant coach Sherwin Meneses credited his players’ ability to stick to the basics particularly in crucial moments where mental composure is more important than skills.
Bea De Leon, one of the veterans in the team, added their experience played a vital role in their first-round campaign particularly in their match against a well-oiled team like La Salle.
“I think our edge (against La Salle) was our experience. We just stuck together and we just kept on reminding each other to do our parts,” said De Leon.
There were apprehensions on Ateneo’s strength prior to the season with the exit of Valdez and Amy Ahomiro, but the Lady Eagles proved their critics wrong especially with towering Kat Tolentino and Maddie Madayag coming back from injuries.
