The University of Perpetual Help System DALTA recovered from a Set 1 hiccup to secure a 19-25, 25-16, 25-20, 25-16 win over Lyceum of the Philippines University in NCAA Season 101 women's volleyball on Wednesday at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.
The Lady ALTAs, who opened their campaign with a perfect 5-0 record, strengthened their hold on the top spot in Group A with a 7-1 mark, while the Lady Pirates suffered their second straight loss, dropping to 3-5 in Group B.
Perpetual, though, had to shake off a shaky start after LPU blew them out in the opening frame. The Lady Pirates unleashed 12 attacks while limiting the Lady ALTAs to just nine to draw first blood.
However, the Las Piñas crew regained its form by winning the next two sets convincingly.
Perpetual never looked back since then with Jem Menor rising from the left wing to punish the LPU defense and bring the Lady ALTAs to a huge 14-6 lead in Set 4.
The Las Piñas crew had to hold its breath after Menor was helped off the court for hurting her right arm while trying to dive for a ball at the 22-14 mark.
Menor was not able to return to the taraflex after the incident, but Liz Villanueva came in to finish it for the Lady ALTAs after unloading back-to-back kills that sent them to a 24-15 cushion.
Cyrille Almeniana then shut the door down against Shiela Pascual for the game-winning point as Perpetual surged to its second win in a row since dropping its lone loss against Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
Menor finished with 16 points and 12 receptions while Almeniana shone with 20 markers anchored by 17 attacks and three blocks. Setter Fianne Ariola chipped in five points on top of her 19 excellent sets.
Pascual and Johna Dolorito led the offense for LPU with 13 points each while lefty opposite hitter Ashley Muchillas chipped in 12 markers in the loss.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
