The NU Lady Bulldogs celebrate their triumph in the 2024 Shakey's Shakey's Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on November 24, 2024. Handout/SSL
MANILA -- National University on Sunday completed a two-game sweep of De La Salle University to annex the 2024 Shakey's Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Overcoming a slow start, the Lady Bulldogs essayed a 23-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-20 triumph in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series.
This is National U's third straight title in the Super League. They had swept the Lady Spikers last Friday in Game 1 to move on the brink of the championship.
READ: NU sweeps La Salle in opener, one win away from Super League 3-peat
Alyssa Solomon, who was named Best Opposite Spiker, was stellar once again with a 19-point contribution, all coming off attacks, to lead her squad in giving new coach Sherwin Meneses his first title with NU.
"Siyempre yung experience na makalaro sa Shakey's napakaimportante sa preparation sa UAAP ng National University. So thankful na may opportunity na ganito," said head coach Sherwin Meneses, who won his first title in charge of the Lady Bulldogs.
Most Valuable Player winner Bella Belen added 15 points from 12 attacks, two kill blocks and an ace while Vange Alinsug had 10 markers including the championship-winning kill for the Lady Bulldogs.
"I'm very happy kasi nanalo po kami against La Salle. Talagang pinaghirapan namin ang panalo namin kasi ang La Salle alam namin na lalaban sila so sinabi ko sa teammates ko na kailangang lumaban din kami," said Belen, who was also honored as 1st Best Outside Spiker.
NU shook off a first set hiccup and mauled La Salle in the next three frames.
The Lady Bulldogs used a 5-1 barrage to take control of the fourth frame for a 15-9 lead. NU kept its distance as Solomon hammered an off the block kill for a 23-16 advantage.
Back-to-back errors by Alinsug gave La Salle a little hope of a comeback but Amie Provido made a costly service error that pushed NU at match point, 24-19. The Lady Spikers saved a match point before Alinsug's finishing blow.
Angel Canino had nine points while Alleiah Malaluan and Katrina Del Castillo added eight and seven markers, respectively, for La Salle, which ended their campaign with back-to-back losses after an eight-game romp heading into the finale.
Meanwhile, Far Eastern University claimed third place after a come-from-behind, five-set win against University of Santo Tomas in the battle for bronze.
READ: FEU completes comeback, outlasts UST for Super League bronze