Emilio Aguinaldo College wasted an early two-set advantage, but restored order when it mattered most to pull off a 33-31, 25-16, 18-25, 29-25, 15-10 win over Jose Rizal University in the NCAA Season 100 women's volleyball on Saturday.
And leading the nail-biting win was 19-year-old rookie Erica Bodonal, who detonated for a huge triple-double of 22 points, 21 digs, and 20 receptions for her career-high outing.
With Bodondal showing the way, the Lady Generals put together a fifth set domination to put away the Lady Bombers and halt a four-game slide to improve to 2-6.
JRU, meanwhile, slipped to its fourth straight loss to go 1-7.
EAC was in control of the fourth set until JRU stepped on the gas with Czarina Ramos bringing the Lady Bombers to a 22-17 lead after serving up an ace. JRU went on closing the fourth set in its favor courtesy of a Shanine Pretta combination play, dragging EAC to a deciding fifth set.
But EAC rediscovered the same intensity it displayed in the first two sets by opening the final frame with a 5-0 start led by middle blocker Jamaica Villena and unlikely hero Bodonal powering the early rampage.
A Villena running kill and quick attack then saw the Lady Generals marching to a crucial 8-3 cushion before Cara Dayanan went down-the-line on her outside attack for a 10-6 advantage.
JRU tried to mount a rally behind the towering middle blocker Patricia Del Pilar, whose back-to-back quick hammers made it just a 9-13 deficit for the Lady Bombers.
But errors ultimately cost JRU the game with Del Pilar and Pretta committing back-to-back service infractions to give EAC its second win in eight outings.
Providing Bodonal the help were Dayanan and Alex Razonable with the former posting 17 points anchored on 13 attacks, four aces, and one block while the latter chipped in 16 markers.
The loss spoiled the 20-point outing of sophomore Ramos, who finished with 20 points off the bench. Del Pilar and Nicole Deala churned out 16 and 13 markers apiece.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
