La Salle sweeps FEU to stay unscathed

DE La Salle University stayed spotless after defeating Far Eastern University (FEU), 25-16, 25-18, 25-21, on Saturday, March 11, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament at the PhilSports Arena.

Angel Canino continued her superb rookie campaign with 13 points, eight excellent receptions and seven digs to lead the way for the league-leading Lady Spikers, who rose to a 5-0 record.

Thea Gagate put up 13 points while Jolina de la Cruz and Leila Cruz chipped in 10 markers, respectively, in La Salle’s balanced attack orchestrated by Mars Alba, who dished out 19 excellent sets.

“We didn’t expect that this is the kind of result [sweep] we’re going to get because FEU’s confidence is high after their 5-set win over Ateneo,” said La Salle interim coach Noel Orcullo.

“We didn’t expect it to be this fast, but we still have a lot of things to correct. We still have some lapses, especially when we’re leading big, we’re relaxing and giving the opponents the chance to catch up.”

Unlike the first two sets where La Salle practically took full control and had its way, the Lady Spikers drew a tough challenge from the Lady Tamaraws in the third set where the latter led, 8-7.

La Salle created some separation with a 6-0 run following a Gagate hit to take a 13-8 lead, but FEU kept fighting back and got within a point thrice with the last one being 21-22 on a Jovelyn Fernandez attack.

The Lady Spikers, though, finished the match after a Fernandez service error, a Gagate ace, and a Chenie Tagaod antenna violation.

Tagaod and Alyzza Devosora punched in 10 and nine points, respectively, to pace the Lady Tamaraws, who dropped to 2-3.

Earlier, it was FEU that had La Salle’s number in the men’s division as the Tamaraws stopped the Green Spikers, 25-21, 25-16, 21-25, 25-21, to take their third straight win.

FEU improved to 4-1 while La Salle slid to 3-2.