The M. Lhuillier Sports Development Foundation (MLSDF)-sponsored University of San Jose Recoletos (USJ-R) opened its title bid in the volleyball event of the 2007 National University Games (Uni-Games) with a three-set thrashing of Baguio City’s St. Louis University yesterday at the University of St. La Salle (USLS)-Bacolod Gym.
The MLSDF/USJ-R belles of coach Grace Antigua, a Cebu Sports Hall of Famer, toiled hard in the first set before eking out a 25-22 victory. With their set plays getting better and power shots clicking, the Josenian spikers punched in a 25-14 rout in the second frame.
In the third set, the St. Louis ladies showed great fighting form to forge an air-tight encounter most of the way, but the MLSDF/USJ-R stalwarts were crafty enough to parry their attacks and prevail after two slides, 27-25, to seal the match.
“This is a very good start for the team and hopefully this will continue all the way to the championship,” said USJ-R benefactor and MLSDF executive director Eddie B. Ybañez.
USJ-R, the reigning back-to-back champion of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) women’s volleyball, takes up another tough challenge as it squares off against Silliman University (SU) of Dumaguete City.
USJ-R’s next assignments are against St. Benilde College-La Salle and Iloilo Doctors’ College.— Marigold P. Lebumfacil, Correspondent