By Ardyn Gonzales
De La Salle University Lady Spikers extended their winning streak over their arch rivals Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, 25-16, 25-20, 25-12, in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball, Sunday, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The win marks the 11th consecutive victory of La Salle over Ateneo which started in Season 79 when the Lady Spikers won back-to-back championships.
The match was entirely lopsided in favor of La Salle, with the Taft-based squad dominating Ateneo from the get-go where they established an early 17-9 lead in the first frame before they ended the set with a 4-0 run.
The Lady Spikers continued their dominance in the next two sets, with Angel Canino, Thea Gagate, and Jolina dela Cruz teaming up to build a 14-8 and 23-12 advantage in the second and third sets, respectively.
Canino was unstoppable with 23 points on 21 attacks, a kill block, and a service ace, on top of five excellent receptions and nine digs. Dela Cruz and Gagate combined for 23 to match the output of the super rookie.
Meanwhile, Faith Nisperos was held down to just 11 points, with the rest of the team struggling to contribute in the scoring and non-scoring departments.
La Salle remains the only undefeated team this season with a 3-0 record, while Ateneo fell down to 1-2 in the standings.
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