Blue Eagles get back at Lady Falcons

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo shoved it back hard to first-round tormentor Adamson, scoring a 25-23, 25-14, 25-23 sweep for its second straight win in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

AC Miner, Lyann de Guzman and Zey Pacia led the way with 13, 12 and 10 points, respectively, as the Blue Eagles reversed their 25-21, 25-20, 12-25, 15-25, 12-15 defeat against the Lady Falcons in the first round.

De Guzman added 13 receptions and 13 digs for an all-around brilliance for Ateneo, which gained a share of fifth spot with UP – tormentor of reigning champion National U – at 4-5 to knock on the Final Four dour with five games to play in the two-round eliminations.

“Everyone contributed in this game,” said playmaker Taks Fujimoto, who dished out 17 sets and scored five points.

Ateneo converted 12 aces in the match that lasted only 84 minutes, fending off Adamson’s repeated rallies in the first and third sets. The Blue Eagles dominated the second with an 11-point lead.

Super spiker Shaina Nitura, who set the UAAP rookie record of 33 points in Adamson’s five-setter comeback against Ateneo in the opener, had 21 points but the Lady Falcons slid to 3-6.

In the main game, La Salle (6-3) gave Santo Tomas (5-4) a dose of its own medicine, 15-25, 25-17, 24-26, 25-21, 16-14, to tie Far Eastern U (6-3) at second.