Ateneo takes down Adamson to book last ticket to UAAP volleyball stepladder semis

It may have been a sweep but it was a hard-earned win for Ateneo de Manila University.

Ateneo punched the last ticket to the UAAP Season 84 stepladder semis after surviving a gritty Adamson University, 25-20, 28-26, 25-22, on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Adamson took a 4-0 lead early in the third set before the Eagles responded with a 5-0 run, which started the cat-and-mouse chase as Adamson held onto its playoff hopes.

With Adamson having the lead at 22-21, Faith Nisperos scored two straight points to give the Katipunan-based squad a slim advantage. AC Miner delivered Ateneo's last two points which sealed the deal for the blue and white.

Nisperos had 22 points on 18 attacks, two blocks, and two aces, while Jaja Maraguinot had 21 excellent sets in the Ateneo win. Trisha Genesis had 13 points from 11 attacks and two aces in the Adamson loss.

Ateneo will face third-seeded University of Santo Tomas on Tuesday in the stepladder semis, while the winner of the said match will go against no. 2 De La Salle University, which has a twice-to-beat bonus.

Waiting in the finals is National University, who swept the league's elimination round.

—MGP, GMA News