NATIONAL University overcame University of the Philippines’ superb blocking game to hack out a 25-21, 30-32, 25-17, 25-19 victory and open its second round campaign on the high note in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Fighting Maroons, who matched a season-high 15 blocks, showed a lot of grit by winning the extended second set before the Lady Bulldogs regrouped in the next two to prevail in the two-hour, 15-minute contest.

“Yung UP talagang lumaban po sila and talagang ipinakita po nila kung ano yung kaya nilang gawin against us,” said Bella Belen, who came through with 21 points, 14 receptions, and eight digs.

“Sa team po namin slow start kami at yung utak ng team kahit sinasabi namin na nakamove on na kami sa pagkatalo sa La Salle, I think meron pa rin talagang slight na hindi pa rin nakamove on,” the Season 84 MVP added.

With its sixth win in eight matches, NU kept within distance of league-leading University of Santo Tomas and defending champion La Salle.

Up next for the Lady Bulldogs is a much-awaited Sunday showdown with the Tigresses, the other team the Bustillos-based squad tasted defeat this season.

“Ginagawa ko naman ito para sa team namin kasi may goal naman kami. Since nag slow start kami, kailangan lang din namin ipulido after pagusapan yung mga kulang,“ said Vange Alinsug, who tallied 24 points on 20-of-44 attacks, three service aces and a block that went along with 12 receptions.

Cham Maaya was inserted into the starting lineup and came through with 11 points while captain Erin Pangilinan added nine of her own for NU.

Fighting Maroons rookie Pling Baclay continued to impress with 11 points including a season-high nine blocks, eclipsing her previous bestseven she set at the end of the first round.

Baclay, a product of Naga College Foundation high school program, flirted with the league record of 11 blocks set by Maddie Madayag exactly five years ago yesterday when Ateneo, then handled by now UP coach Oliver Almadro, defeated UST in five sets.

Steph Bustrillo had 17 points and five digs while Nica Celis added 10 points, including three blocks, for the Fighting Maroons.

Men’s titleholder NU primed up to its much-awaited showdown with UST this weekend with a 25-23, 25-22, 25-16 dismantling of UP.

Nico Almendras had 18-of-27 attacks to finish with 19 points while Owa Retamar tossed in 20 excellent sets and contributed six points, including two blocks and two service aces for the Bulldogs, who improved to 7-1 heading into their Sunday duel with the Golden Spikers.

“Itong start ng second round dito na magbi-base kung sino na yung papasok ng top four and dito na rin magpi-peak yung bawat team so sinasabi ko lang lagi sa kakampi ko na bawal kaming mag kumpyansa,” said Retamar.

Jian Salarzon fired a career-high 32 points as Ateneo completed a head-to-head elimination round sweep with UST with a 22-25, 26-24, 25-23, 26-28, 15-9 win, tying its victims at 4-4.

“We’re very happy that we were able to get a win again starting this second round especially we’re coming from back-to-back losses,” said coach Timmy Sto. Tomas.

The defeat negated Josh Ybañez’s new personal-best of 33 points for the Golden Spikers, who also lost to the Blue Eagles in five sets in the first round.