The Benilde Lady Blazers are off to a lionhearted start in their hunt for a fifth straight NCAA Women’s Volleyball title.

The reigning champions took care of business in their first assignment in Season 101, albeit needing five full sets and a thriller of a finish to expel the Mapúa Lady Cardinals, 25-21, 20-25, 25-14, 23-25, 17-15.

Zamantha Nolasco scored her buena mano player of the game award after dropping 29 points on 28 attacks and a block to lead Benilde’s offensive.

Ilonggo rookie Camila Amor Bartolome, a highly-touted recruit coming out of the Bacolod Tay Tung High School program, also made an impressive NCAA women’s volleyball debut, scoring 15 points on 9 attacks, 5 aces, and a block. 

The Lady Blazers are gunning for its fifth straight title in Season 101, relying on an intact core headlined by Nolasco, Shekaina and Shahanna Lleses, Chenae Basarte, and Cristy Ondongan.