Ateneo’s Valdez earns UAAP volleyball MVP honors

MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo captain Alyssa Valdez won Most Valuable Player honors of the UAAP Season 76 women's volleyball tourney after a sterling effort that helped the "rebuilding" Lady Eagles overachieve and surprisingly reach the finals against powerhouse La Salle.

Valdez, left to carry the torch for an Ateneo side that lost five key players at the end of 2013, stepped up in most aspects of the game to beat her rivals for the top individual plum with an accumulated 100 statistical points.

The third-year AdMU star also retained the Best Scorer award with 269 markers throughout the season and added another facet to her game by topping the league in service (35 aces and 0.74 average by set) en route to Best Server plum.

"Naging MVP ako dahil sa teammates ko; tinutulungan nila talaga ako (I owe this MVP award to my teammates because they were really helping me out every game)," said Valdez, who personally secured her third MVP accolade in the UAAP after snaring two back in high school.

"Siguro mas magiging maganda kung makuha namin ang korona, third time na namin sa finals so we have to go for it (It would be a lot sweeter if we win the crown on our third try)," added Valdez.

Her teammate, libero Dennise Lazaro took home two awards, the Best Digger (3.38 digs per set) and Best Receiver (31.72 percent accuracy).

National U's Dindin Santiago, who placed second to Valdez in the MVP race with 96.304 SPs, took home Best Attacker honors (46.1 percent clip) while younger sister Jaja was adjudged Rookie of the Year (68.261 SPs).

La Salle's Kim Fajardo netted Best Setter with 6.93 average per set while University of the Philippines' Katherine Bersola won Best Blocker with 0.91 average per set.