The Varsitarian

Feb. 5, 10:39 p.m. - THE UST Lady Spikers blitzed past a hapless National University with a lopsided three-set sweep, 25-19, 25-15, 25-15, at the Arena in San Juan today.

Maika Ortiz led UST with 18 markers, while Judy Caballejo, Maru Banaticla, and Carmela Tunay collectively tossed 30 points.

UST is now tied with Adamson University at third spot in the UAAP volleyball tournament, with identical 8-5 win-loss slates.

“We had some adjustments in our service ... Also, all the players, even the reserves, delivered for the team,” coach Odjie Mamon said. “I’m confident that we can beat Adamson next week and go all the way to the semifinals.”

The Lady Spikers limited NU’s frontline to 20 attack points versus UST’s 51.

Ortiz and Caballejo led the Lady Spikers' fiery offense, hammering on the Lady Bulldogs' reception woes in the second frame for a 20-8 cushion.

UST went on an early 9-1 scoring barrage, ignited by Tunay’s eight-point explosion, for a 13-6 lead in the last frame. The Lady Bulldogs’ Maricar Nepomuceno and Rizza Manlapat used a 4-0 counter-salvo to slice the Lady Spikers’ lead down to three, 10-13, but UST’s Ortiz scored two consecutive markers for the match point, 25-15.

The Lady Spikers will lock horns with the Adamson Lady Falcons next Saturday to determine which team will make it to the semifinals. Chenny V. Ramos