LA SALLE goes for the jugular as it hopes to complete its domination of National University this season in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.

The Lady Spikers aim to close out the best-of-three series at 4 p.m. today before an expected huge crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena to avenge their Finals defeat to the Lady Bulldogs last year.

While its women’s team is trying to save its season, NU’s decorated men’s squad eyes to complete a perfect 16-0 campaign against University of Santo Tomas at 2 p.m.

The league’s third most successful women’s volleyball program, La Salle is gunning for a 12th championship, and the first since 2018. A victory will also allow the Lady Spikers to close in on the Tigresses, the second winningest squad with 14 crowns.

Far Eastern University remains on top with 29 championships, but has not won a title since the 2007-08 season.

One thing that favors La Salle is it has yet to drop back-to-back matches this season.

The Lady Spikers showed grit in beating the Lady Bulldogs, 18-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 15-13, in last Sunday’s series opener, going 3-0 in their head-to-head this year.

NU is facing a tough task of becoming the first team to win the title after trailing 0-1 in the series, a trick which Ateneo last did in 2019 against UST.

The fitness of middle blocker Sheena Toring, who accidentally landed on La Salle counterpart Thea Gagate’s foot and hurt her left knee late in the fifth set, in Game 2 has remains to be seen. The Lady Bulldogs remained mum on Toring’s status in the crucial match.

Whether Toring will suit up or not, La Salle is ready for any eventuality.

Blocking will be the Lady Spikers’ best friend.

One of the main ingredients in La Salle’s championship runs in the past, the Taft-based side logged 16 blocks in Game 1, with Gagate accounting for four, Em Provido and Shevana Laput chipping in three apiece and Alleiah Malaluan and Jolina dela Cruz producing two.

As libero Justine Jazareno is doing well in her first ball and receives, setter Mars Alba needs to step up in her playmaking for the Lady Spikers, as her rival Camilla Lamina delivered better outing.

NU is looking forward for its third option Vangie Alinsug to elevate her level of play several notches higher to back up reigning MVP Mhicaela Belen and Alyssa Solomon, and give La Salle’s defense a headache.

In men’s action, the Bulldogs hope to learn the lessons of last Wednesday’s close 25-23, 25-22, 21-25, 29-31, 15-11 victory over the Golden Spikers that extended their perfect run to 15 matches.

Eyeing a three-peat, NU is seeking a fifth title overall to become the fourth winningest program behind FEU’s 29, UST’s 19 and University of the East’s 14.