The De La Salle Lady Spikers completed a second-round sweep of the UAAP Season 80 women's volleyball tournament after pulling off a straight-sets victory over the Ateneo Lady Eagles, 26-24, 25-17, 25-19, Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The defending champions overpowered their archrivals to close out the elimination round with an eight-game winning streak and a 12-2 slate.
Kim Kianna Dy, Des Cheng, Tin Tiamzon, and Majoy Baron were all impressive in the game. Dy top-scored with 13 points, while Cheng and Tiamzon combined for 23 markers. Baron had four blocks en route to nine points.
"We don't want to enter the semifinals coming off a loss," said reigning MVP Baron. "We want to be complete as a team heading to the semis."
La Salle surged to 17-13 in the opening frame but Ateneo clawed back to force a 17-all deadlock after back-to-back points from Deanna Wong. The Lady Spikers pulled away again, then Michelle Cobb fired an ace to reach set point, 24-20.
The Lady Eagles threatened to steal the set with four straight markers before Jho Maraguinot committed a service error. Baron then denied Maraguinot in the next play, allowing the Lady Spikers to draw first blood in the contest.
Behind Tiamzon and Dy, La Salle started strong in Set 2 and mounted as much as a ten-point lead at 20-10. Ateneo attempted to mount a comeback but the Lady Spikers held on for a 25-17 triumph.
The third period was more tightly-contested. Ateneo held a 12-8 edge before La Salle stole the momentum, thanks to back-to-back hits from seldom-used middle blocker Julia Ipac. From there, the Lady Spikers controlled the pace again, with Baron and Cheng conspiring to clinch the contest.
Kat Tolentino was the lone Lady Eagle who finished in double-digits with 15 points.
With the loss, Ateneo (9-5) settled for third place, missing the twice-to-beat incentive for the first time in four years. FEU (10-4), meanwhile, claimed the second seed and the Final Four bonus for the first time since Season 71.