NCAA VOLLEYBALL

Mapua survives tight third set to sweep San Beda, tie Lyceum in third place

 

Mapua University claimed its first sweep victory of the season, blanking San Beda University despite a close third set affair, 25-23, 25-19, 26-24, to improve its Final Four hopes in the NCAA Season 98 women's volleyball tournament on Wednesday.

With the win, Mapua forged a tie for the third spot with a 6-2 card ahead of its final elimination round game against University of Perpetual Help System DALTA on Sunday.

San Beda, on the other hand, dropped to 1-8.

Mapua momentarily slowed down in the third set, allowing San Beda to take a 15-11 lead with Kleiner Abraham, Kat Molina, and Chynna Castillo leading the Lady Red Spikers as they looked to extend the match.

But the Lady Cardinals caught up with their opponents as Roxie Dela Cruz served up an ace before Nicole Ong took advantage of an overpass from San Beda and a kill from Tere Manalo tied things up at 15.

Manalo then drilled back-to-back points to bring Mapua up by one, 21-20, before a miscommunication on the side of the Lady Cardinals saw the game knotted again at 24-all.

But Hannah De Guzman made sure there won't be another set, burying that last two points for Mapua as they completed the sweep---the first for Mapua after figuring in five five-setters and two four-setters in their previous games.

Dela Cruz had a team-high 15 points laced with six digs and five receptions while Manalo finished with 14 markers. De Guzman chipped in nine points while Ong chipped in six.

Kat Molina paced San Beda with 13 points and five receptions while Castillo chimed in with 10 markers together with 10 digs.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News

Other Stories
SEE NEXT ARTICLE
SEE NEXT ARTICLE