The defending champions De La Salle University Lady Spikers will face the University of Sto. Tomas Lady Tigresses to open the semifinals of the UAAP season 79 women’s volleyball tournament tomorrow, April 22 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
With La Salle (11-3) taking the second seed in the elimination round, they will be armed with a twice-to-beat edge as they seek to seal their ninth straight trip to the Finals. While UST (9-5) looks to continue its run after ending their four-year Final Four drought and hand La Salle rare back-to-back losses to make it to the Finals.
The Lady Spikers defeated the Lady Tigresses twice in the eliminations, but these were hard-fought wins asUST was able to snatch a set in their first matchup, 25-23, 16-25, 25-14, 25-22, and made the defending champs sweat in the second round, 25-23, 25-22, 25-21.
La Salle and UST are both excelling in defense, with the Lady Spikers being the number one blocking team (2. 33 blocks per set) and the Lady Tigresses as the number one digging team (15.88 digs per set).
The Taft-based squad, however, is also number one in the setting and receiving department with 12.15 excellent sets and 39.38 efficiency in reception per set respectively. The girls off Espana though leads La Salle in offense with a 33.36% success rate.
If necessary, the Game 2 will be on April 26, Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
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