Cainglet leads Lady Eagles to 2-0 record in UAAP volleyball

Fille Cainglet unleashed 20 hits to power Ateneo past University of the East, 26-24, 25-12, 25-7, for the early solo leadership in the 74th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Blue Eagle Gym on Wednesday. The Lady Eagles only walked the tightrope against the Lady Warriors in the opening set, but Cainglet rose to the challenge and with a service ace that UE skipper Jimberly Dawn Dizon could not handle, gave Ateneo the advantage in the match. The Lady Warriors could not get their act together in the second set and fell into a series of reception errors, allowing the Lady Eagles to sprint to an 18-8 lead that they never relinquished. And despite coach Roger Gorayeb’s decision to rest high school phenom Alyssa Valdez for the entire second set, the Lady Eagles had another gem in sophomore Ella de Jesus who delivered the crucial plays. Cainglet remained unstoppable in the third and scored three aces. She then teamed up with Dzi Gervacio in securing the Lady Eagles’ second straight win, a morale-boosting victory in time for their much-awaited match against archrival and defending champion La Salle on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at The Arena in San Juan City. Gervacio had 10 points and four blocks while Valdez, who made the net her sole domain, had five hits for the Lady Eagles, who followed up their 25-16, 25-23, 25-18 season-opening victory over University of Santo Tomas last Saturday. “I’m satisfied with what the girls showed today, and it proves they are ready for Saturday [against La Salle],” said Gorayeb, who is on his fourth season as coach of the Lady Eagles. The Lady Eagles played intelligent volleyball throughout, drawing 31 points on their opponents’ errors. They also had more aces, 11-6, and blocks, 6-2, against UE which fell to a 0-2 record. In the other women’s game, Adamson University whipped University of the Philippines, 25-14, 25-17, 25-17, for the Lady Falcons’ first win in two games. Mayette Zapanta and Sheila Pineda tallied 12 hits apiece and Pau Soriano added 10 for the Lady Falcons, who dropped a four-setter to La Salle. Pau Genido had 10 hits for the Lady Maroons, who are now 0-2. — JVP, GMA News