NATIONAL University overcame a slow start and withstood a late Ateneo fightback in the fourth set to carve out a 18-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-18 victory and stay unbeaten in nine matches yesterday in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Lady Bulldogs secured at least a playoff for a Final Four berth, and more importantly, remained on course for a possible outright Finals berth.

Mhicaela Belen filled the stats sheet with 19 points, including two blocks, 21 receptions and 10 digs, Cess Robles added 16 points, while Alyssa Solomon chipped in 14 points for NU.

University of Santo Tomas solidified its hold of second spot with a 25-20, 18-25, 26-24, 25-23 win over University of the Philippines.

The Tigresses, who displayed their resiliency once more after clawing back from a 21-24 deficit in the third set to prevail, rose to 7-2 card.

Eya Laure redeemed herself from three straight attack faults that allowed the Fighting Maroons to move within 23-24 with a match-clinching spike to finish with 25 points to go with 20 receptions.

UST, who also drew 10 points from.Ysa Jimenez, avenged its four-set loss to UP in the first round.

Earlier, Trisha Genesis fired three service aces for a 13-point outing as Adamson stayed within the Final Four range with a 25-16, 25-14, 25-9 rout of University of the East.

Not even a brief power stoppage early in the fourth set could not stop the Lady Bulldogs from pulling away with a 10-2 advantage.

Despite having burned two timeouts, the Blue Eagles were able to rally and threatened at 18-22 on a Erika Raagas block on Robles.

The Lady Bulldogs recovered just in time and netted the last three points of the match, capped by Solomon’s powerful spike.

NU realized that the opening set loss served as a warning not to fall into a sense of complacency.

“Siguro wake up call din sa amin ito na kailangan mag laro kami nang maayos, kailangan paghirapan namin every point, siguro every set kasi hindi kami puwedeng maging complacent sa situation ngayon,” said coach Karl Dimaculangan after his Lady Bulldogs dropped a set for the third time this season.

Ivy Lacsina had three of NU’s eight blocks, Camilla Lamina distributed 22 excellent sets while libero Jen Nierva, who scored a point that cooled down Ateneo’s uprising from eight points down, collected 18 digs and 12 receptions.

Vanie Gandler had 19 points, as the Eagles’ leading scorer Faith Nisperos, facing against her high school alma mater, struggled with 9-of-47 spikers and was held to 11 points.

As it suffered its fifth loss against four wins, Ateneo recorded its worst nine-match start since also going 4-5 in the 2008-09 season.

May Ann Nuique also had three aces to finish with nine points while Kate Santiago also scored nine points, including three blocks and had seven digs for the Lady Falcons.

With a 5-4 card, Adamson rebounded from last Thursday’s tough five-set loss to UST. The Falcons opened a one-game lead over the Eagles and the Maroons, who both fell at 4-5, in the race for the last Final Four berth.

“Bilin namin kanina before the game, talagang yung aggressiveness, yung bawat bola dapat kapag hirapan so yun naman yung ginawa nila kanina even though may mga minor na mga errors pa rin, touch net, service,” said Adamson coach Lerma Giron after the one hour, 18 minute match.

“Pero so far so good naman yung performance nila,” she added.

Jewel Encarnacion paced UP with 18 points and 13 receptions, Alyssa Bertolano had 15 points and 17 digs while Irah Jaboneta added 13 points, 14 receptions and nine digs.

Ja Lana and Dara Nieva had seven points apiece for the Lady Warriors, who will miss the Final Four for the 12th consecutive season with their 0-9 record.

Games Tuesday

(Mall of Asia Arena)
10 a.m. – UST vs Ateneo
12:30 p.m. – AdU vs FEU
4 p.m. – DLSU vs UP
6:30 p.m. – NU vs UE