Benilde opens four-peat bid as NCAA women's volleyball kicks off on February 20

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde will begin its bid for a rare fourth straight title when it takes on Arellano University on February 20 in the opening of NCAA Season 100 women's volleyball tournament at the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Gym.

This marks a new era for the Lady Blazers as the squad of champion head coach Jerry Yee will be without several key players in Cloanne Mondoñedo, Gayle Pascual, and Mich Gamit, all of whom are now in the professional ranks.

Nonetheless, Benilde is still tipped to dominate with some holdovers expected to pick up the slack for the Taft crew.

They will face the Lady Chiefs at 11 a.m. while Lyceum of the Philippines University, which was coming off back-to-back Final Four appearances in Seasons 98 and 99, will open its campaign against Emilio Aguinaldo College at 1 p.m.

Colegio de San Juan de Letran, hoping to follow up on its surprise finals run last year, will square off with Jose Rizal University on Friday, February 21, at 11 a.m. before San Sebastian and Mapua University face off at 1 p.m.

On the men's side, four-time defending champion University of Perpetual Help System DALTA will open its five-peat claim on Saturday, February 22, against San Beda University at 9 a.m.

Arellano, which finished fourth last season, will take on LPU at 3 p.m.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News