Lyceum, Letran duel for second

MANILA, Philippines - Lyceum and Letran clash today in a duel of contenders as action in the NCAA women’s volleyball resumes at Letran gym in Intramuros.

The Lady Pirates and the Lady Knights are locked in a four-way tie at second at 2-1 with the winner in the 9 a.m. contest moving closer to joint leaders Perpetual Help and Emilio Aguinaldo College, who are unbeaten in four games.

In men’s play, the Knights (2-1) square off with the struggling Pirates (1-2) at 10 a.m. while the Letran Squires (1-1) and the Junior Pirates (0-1) kick off hostilities at 8 a.m. 

In the other women’s match slated at 1 p.m., the defending champion San Sebastian Lady Stags (1-2) try to stay in contention when they meet the Mapua Lady Cardinals, who are still winless after four games.

The Stags and the Cardinals, who both carry 0-3 cards, try to break into the win column at each other’s expense in their 2 p.m. match.

The Lady Pirates, who are coming off a 25-17, 25-12, 25-11 crushing of the Lady Cardinals, will again rely on starters Gian Carla Benedicto, Reyshiele Damnig and Kailyn Penamente against the equally dangerous Lady Knights, who needed the full five sets to turn back the College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers, 25-21, 25-21, 12-25, 13-25, 16-14 (3-2), a week ago.