By NIKOLE JAVIER
National University showed great defensive effort and mowed down University of the East, 25-14, 25-14, 25-12, to clinch at least a playoff for a Final Four slot in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday, April 3, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
After 10 outings, the Lady Bulldogs are now poised to become the first squad to advance to the Final Four – thanks to their air-tight defense that rendered the high-scoring Casiey Dongallo helpless.
The high-leaping rookie sensation was held to just six points – all on attacks, but a far cry from her 23-point average in the first eight games.
Dongallo was a sight to behold during their first meeting as she exploded for 31 points.
This time, she struggled to score in the face of NU’s improved chemistry, especially on the defensive end.
The three-set win over UE was a fitting sequel to its vengeful win over erstwhile unbeaten University of the East before the Holy Week break.
While NU improved to 8-2, UE dropped to 2-7 – its playoff bid now in great danger.
Veteran spikers Alyssa Solomon and Bella Belen took turns to help NU with 14 and 13 points, respectively, with the latter scoring four kill blocks in the process that went with 10 digs and 10 receptions.
Before the break, UE was coming off a four-set bounce back victory against Adamson last March 23, which snapped its six-game slide.
No other Lady Warriors reached the double-digit mark as the Lady Bulldogs were in complete control of the match much to the delight of their supporters.
So inspired and overpowering were the Lady Bulldogs that no UE player managed to produce a single block or service ace in the brief affair.
