Lady Archers trounce Tams for 10th win

MANILA, Philippines - La Salle ooutclassed Far Eastern U, 25-16, 25-23, 25-14, yesterday as it rolled to its 10th straight victory in the women’s division of the 72nd UAAP indoor volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Stephanie Mercado, daughter of former Asian sprint queen Lydia de Vega-Mercado, and Jacqueline Alarca, who bagged the best player of the game honors against Ateneo last weekend, came away with 13 kills apiece as the Lady Archers continued to dominate the field with their power game.

FEU slid to 5-5.

The win came on the heels of the Lady Archers’ 25-15, 25-20, 23-25, 25-20 victory over the Lady Eagles where Alarca combined forces with Mercado, last year’s top rookie Melissa Gohing and rookie sensation and league leading blocker Joanne Siy, veteran setter Kaye Martinez and Charleen Cruz.

Meanwhile, Ateneo bounced back from its four-set defeat to La Salle as it trounced National U, 25-23, 25-20, 25-22, to remain in the hunt for a semifinal berth.

Fille Cainglet and Dzi Gervacio combined for 23 hits for the Eagles, who tied the Adamson Lady Falcons at 6-4. They will face the Far Eastern U Lady Tams on Sunday.

“We’re just trying to survive and we’re on the right track,” said Ateneo coach Roger Gorayeb.

The Lady Bulldogs last tasted the lead in the third set at 22-20 on a kill by rookie Maricar Nepomuceno. But the Lady Eagles took the last five points highlighted by a quick hit by Bea Pascual to deal NU its 10th straight defeat.

Mervic Mangui led all hitters with 18 kills while Lorena Simon pounded 10 for the Lady Bulldogs.

In men’s action, AJ Pareja blasted his way to 10 hits while Duane Teves spewed 14 as Ateneo edged a stubborn Far Eastern U, 26-24, 17-=25, 25-21, 27-25 to improve to 5-5.

La Salle has the same slate along with University of the Philippines, which eked out a marathon 28-26, 25-20, 22-25, 22-25, 15-11 win over Adamson for joint fourth.

Games are telecast live on Studio 23.     – Joey Villar