Blue Eagles eye volleyball Final 4 return

And with a new coach in Sergio Veloso and a new captain in Roma Mae Doromal, they are aiming to go back to the Final Four.

“Of course, our goal right now is to play each game with 100% [effort]. We want to apply the system of Coach Sergio,” Doromal told reporters in Filipino.

“Of course, we want to re-enter the Final Four,” she added.

Ateneo last season missed the Final Four bus with a dismal 4-10 win-loss slate.

This season, the team will be led by Doromal, AC Miner and Lyann de Guzman.

Doromal acknowledged that rebuilding was not easy, as the team lost key cogs Faith Nisperos and Vanie Gandler.

Veloso’s new system is also something that they had to adjust to and continuously work on.

“So far, we have adjusted. And, we’re happy in his system and we could see that it works.”

And with the young team being fielded in the upcoming season, Doromal said she is embracing the leadership role “with a full heart.”

“I embraced the leadership role with a full heart… That’s why I came back was because of this purpose,” the libero said.

“I am very grateful to have this purpose as a leader,” she added.

Ateneo will kick off the women’s volleyball tourney on Saturday when they battle the young UE Lady Red Warriors at 2 p.m. — Ralph Edwin Villanueva