Ateneo de Manila University in its UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball ender vs. University of the East. Photo from UAAP Media.
MANILA (UPDATED) — Ateneo de Manila University kept University of the East winless as the two squads ended their respective UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball campaign.
The Blue Eagles survived the Lady Warriors in a four-setter, 25-21, 23-25, 25-16, 27-25, Saturday afternoon at the Araneta Coliseum to not only complete the season on a high note but also halt their four-game skid.
Similar to their Season 86 campaign, the Katipunan-based spikers capped their year with a 5-9 record.
Jihan Chautico led the Ateneans' charge, as the 5-foot-11 rookie who just turned 20 earlier this month put up 16 points on 11 attacks, four blocks, and an ace.
"Panghahawakan ko po yung win na 'to," said Chautico after the contest. "This can bring us momentum for our next seasons. Nakita ko rin na this was not our best game, pero nilaban namin up until the very end so that's a good thing coming into the next seasons."
Aside from the promising rookie, seniors Lyann de Guzman and AC Miner also showed out in what could be their last game donning ADMU's Blue and White.
The former posted 13 points with 18 digs and 17 receptions, while the latter scored the same amount on top of four digs.
As Ateneo was down 22-16 in the final set, errors from UE, as well as the efforts of De Guzman, Miner, and Montoro allowed them to crawl back, albeit with the Lady Warriors holding the match point, 24-21.
Fortunately for the Blue Eagles, a crosscourt kill by de Guzman, as well as another pair of errors from the Recto-based side resulted in them tying the contest at 24.
Khy Cepada retaliated with a kill to regain the advantage for the Lady Warriors, but Montoro tied the contest, while Miner's quick hit followed by another UE error eventually sealed the Blue Eagles' come-from-behind win.
The Lady Warriors, who went winless in 14 games this year, committed 33 errors in their defeat.
Van Bangayan led her squad with 16 points, eight digs, and five receptions, while Cepada, Kayce Balingit, and Riza Nogales followed with 14, 13, and 10, respectively.
This is the first time since Season 77 that the men's and women's teams of UE both had campaigns with zero wins, as the hapless Red Warriors also lost to the Ateneo men's earlier today.
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