By NIKOLE JAVIER
National University booked the first finals seat after beating University of Santo Tomas in four exciting sets, 25-23, 23-25, 25-21, 25-17,, in the Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Conference Friday, Nov. 11, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
NU shrugged off UST’s momentum-gaining second set win to remain the only undefeated team in the tournament heading into the championship.
The Lady Bulldogs completed a five-game sweep before sweeping Far Eastern University, 25-10, 25-17, 25-15, in the quarterfinal
The Lady Bulldogs blew away a four-point advantage in the second set, 21-17, as UST’s Regina Jurado went berserk, scoring the last three in the team’s telling 8-2 run.
NU, however, quickly got back to its feet in the next two sets courtesy of Alyssa Solomon and Bella Belen who delivered back-to-back crosscourt hits in the fourth to close out the match.
Solomon led NU with 15 points built on 13 attacks and two blocks .
NU will face either Adamson or La Salle in the finals knockout on Saturday, Nov. 19.
“Siguro nag-usap kami na maging mindful pa sa galaw. Kasi parang naging complacement kami nung nakaraang set. Siguro ‘yong pagiging aggressive sa loob ng court and ‘yong ma-lessen namin ‘yong errors and sa blockings,” said Solomon.