VOLLEYBALL fans are in for a jam-packed weekend as the opening round of the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament concludes with top contenders facing off in a crucial match for better standings.
Currently in the top four are defending champions NU Lady Bulldogs (6-0), UST Golden Tigresses (5-1), DLSU Lady Spikers (4-2) and FEU Lady Tamaraws (4-2), who have the same win-loss record.
DLSU and FEU will begin weekend hostilities and settle their business this afternoon at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, as both sides strive to secure a solo hold on third place before the first round concludes.
Tomorrow is the highly anticipated UAAP Season 86 Finals rematch between NU and UST for the “Battle of Sampaloc,” with the latter team seeking to ruin the defending champions’ current perfect record.
Battle of the Green Schools
After losing two of their first three games of the season, La Salle and FEU were able to regain focus and remain in the top half of the rankings. Both of these teams are now attempting to break the ice.
Despite having a quick turnaround from last Wednesday’s 25-15, 25-14, 20-25, 25-19 victory over Ateneo, De La Salle coach Ramil de Jesus is looking forward to an optimal preparation for the first round finals.
“Lahat naman ng teams, nire-review namin at pinapagaaralan namin kung ano bang advantage ang pwede namin makuha sa kanila at bibigyan namin ng magandang laban ang FEU,” said De Jesus.
Photo Courtesy: UAAP Media Group
Coming of a week-long break, after playing a stretch of three matches in one week where the Lady Tamaraws went 3-0, they will look to capitalize on this and test the character of Gerzel Petallo and Congo’s Faida Bakanke.
“Talagang contender na, kailangan talaga ipakita, hindi lang kailangang sabihin eh, kailangang trabahuin talaga na talagang contender tayo,” said FEU assistant coach Manolo Refugia.
“Kaya maganda na sa preparation namin for next game against La Salle ay mahaba, maraming time para makapag recover, mapag-aralan yung mga ginagawa nila, kung ano yung puwedeng maging advantage or disadvantage,” he added.
Battle of Sampaloc
Despite the attention focused on Alyssa Solomon, who announced her withdrawal from the 2025 KOVO Draft due to UAAP’s rules, NU is coming off a 25-21, 25-23, 25-18 win over Adamson Lady Falcons.
With them sitting at the top of the standings and being the only team that has yet to lose, they still have a lot of work to do, especially since they are only about to conclude the first round and teams often peak in the second round.
“I think mag-iimprove pa naman ‘yung performance ng NU going to the second round and sa Sunday [na last game ng first round],” said Lady Bulldogs head coach Sherwin Meneses.
Photo Courtesy: UAAP Media Group
Both NU and its España-based counterparts recently defeated the Ateneo Blue Eagles 3-0. For them, the relentless training is what has driven them to thrive in the five consecutive games they have won.
“Thankful kami first time namin maka straight set. Ipa-polish pa namin ‘yung mga skills kasi nagkakaroon ng doubt saka confusion sa game namin,” said UST assistant coach Yani Fernandez.
“All thanks po sa coaches namin na grabe po ‘yung tiyaga sa’min sa training and tinututukan po kami individually and per department po sa skills. Sa kanila po talaga ang puri sa performance namin ngayon,” said Pia Abbu.
Aside from these contending teams, the Ateneo Blue Eagles are now facing the UE Lady Warriors, and the Adamson Lady Falcons will meet the UP Fighting Maroons tomorrow.
