UAAP: DLSU Lady Spikers continue dominating run via straight sets win over UP

The De La Salle Lady Spikers stomped on the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons in straight sets, 25-15 25-23 25-12, on Saturday at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Ara Galang carried La Salle's offense with 17 points (12 attacks, three serves, and two blocks) which temporarily lost its bearing in the second set. The seventh-place Lady Maroons led over the top-seeded Lady Spikers by as much as six points in then, but Galang and La Salle’s veterans avoided another second set loss.

DLSU's first second set loss and only lost set of the season so far came from FEU last week. 

The defending champions Lady Spikers improved to 11-0, while UP sits at 1-10.

The Lady Maroons scored the first point of the game in a hurry after a Kathy Bersola block, but it all went downhill from there as La Salle scored five straight points after. UP managed to string together another run to keep the game close at 8-5, but they dug themselves a hole, hitting long balls (10 unforced errors). They also failed to receive La Salle’s spikes despite the advantage in attacks. The Lady Spikers went on to win the first set by ten points, 25-15, despite a lackadaisical effort that saw them log less blocks than UP, 3-1.

The ladies from Diliman bared their teeth in the second set, leading by six points early and giving La Salle flashes of that second set defeat against FEU, 11-5. Monica Ortiz, Angeli Araneta, and Bersola all took turns pounding DLSU’s defense, while the Lady Maroons’ blocking made it difficult for the Lady Spikers to make any runs. UP’s stellar defensive play put them up 16-14 by the second technical timeout.

The De La Salle offense picked up steam late, as Demecillo, Galang, Reyes, and Marano found their stride, tying the game, 20-20 after a tip by Marano. La Salle led by three after another tip by Demecillo, 23-20. UP fought back courtesy of Bersola, who responded with two straight blocks which brought the score to 24-23. However, La Salle completed their comeback with a Demecillo spike that wiped off the hands of a Lady Maroon.

The Lady Spikers reversed their fortunes in the third set, opening with a 4-0 run, a lead which soon ballooned to 10 points as Galang made mincemeat out of a tired UP defense, 12-2. Coach de Jesus emptied his bench midway through the set while maintaining a 10-point lead, fielding Kim Dy, Denice Tan, Mika Esperanza, and Mary Joy Baron. The reserve unit, along with Reyes and Galang, closed out a three-setter with a 25-12 finish. - BR, GMA News