Roxie Dela Cruz atoned for a tough outing last game to help Mapua University make quick work of Jose Rizal University, 25-20, 25-19, 25-19, and claim back-to-back wins in the NCAA Season 99 women's volleyball tournament on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
The sophomore ace led Mapua with 10 points to recover from a scoreless performance in their previous victory against Emilio Aguinaldo College as they improved to 3-2, forging a three-way logjam at the fourth spot with Arellano and Perpetual.
The Lady Bombers, meanwhile, absorbed their third consecutive losses to go 1-4.
Dela Cruz showed no signs of fatigue, even bringing her squad to a 10-5 lead in the third frame before seldom-used Nadine Berces made it a 13-6 affair in favor of the Lady Cardinals.
JRU, who had to dig deep in that frame in an attempt to extend the match, banked on Nicole Deala, whose rejection on Berces and a kill from the opposite side cut their deficit to just four at 14-10.
But Mapua made sure they would take this one home with Dela Cruz destroying the wall of Patricia Del Pilar and Inday Laurente to send them to a sizable 20-13 lead before Berces delivered the good for the match point, 24-19.
Hannah De Guzman then finished it off after catching JRU's defense sleeping as she served up an ace.
Rookie opposite hitter Raissa Ricablanca provided the support for Mapua with her nine points while veteran middle blockers Princess Babiera and Tere Manalo chipped in seven and six markers apiece.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
