Lady Spikers clinch number 1 seed, repulse Falcons

MANILA, Philippines — La Salle rebounded from a third set defeat and ousted Adamson U from the semifinal race, posting a 25-21, 25-15, 22-25, 25-18, victory to clinch the top spot and a twice-to-beat edge in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan yesterday.

The Lady Spikers pounced on the Lady Falcons’ sloppy service reception to sweep the first two sets then bounced back strong in the fourth with Desiree Cheng clinching the victory for the Taft-based squad, which racked up its seventh straight win for an 11-2 overall card.

Cheng’s final ace was La Salle’s 18 in all as the Lady Spikers got back at the Lady Falcons, who beat them, 18-25, 25-15, 19-25, 22-25, in the first round and foiled the San Marcelino-based school’s backdoor bid with a 5-8 slate.

The win also completed the Final Four cast that includes Ateneo (9-4), Far Eastern U (8-4) and National U (7-6).

In the other game, Far Eastern University walloped ousted University of the East, 25-17, 25-15, 25-20, to stay in the hunt for the other twice-to-beat semis bonus.

The Lady Tamaraws fended off the Lady Warriors’ third set charge as Jeanette Villareal, Celine Domingo and Jerrili Malabanan rallied FEU to complete the straight-set victory for joint second with idle Ateneo at 9-4. “Our service is one of the things we worked on in. We know that’s one of our lapses against Adamson in the first round.”