JOSÉ Rizal University (JRU) outlasted Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) in the fifth and final set, 25-11, 16-25, 17-25, 25-21, 17-15, on Tuesday to complete a semifinal return since 2018 in the NCAA Season 97 volleyball at the Paco Arena.
Sydney Mae Niegos came through big particularly in the deciding set where she had key blocks and finished with a team-best 14 points while skipper Dolly Versoza chipped in 11 hits including 10 on spikes to help power the Lady Bombers seal the fourth and last seat to the stepladder semis.
There, JRU clashes with No. 3 San Sebastian in another knockout game for the former set on Friday with the winner battling No. 2 Arellano University.
The victor of the stepladder phase will battle College of St. Benilde, which swept its way straight to the finals with nine wins, in the best-of-three championships.
JRU actually ended up tied at No. 4 with idle Mapua on 5-4 records but took the last slot—its second semis appearance since making it that far four years ago—with a better quotient score.
“I’m lost for words, but I’m very proud of the girls,” said an emotional JRU coach Mia Tioseco.
It was particularly memorable for Ms. Versoza, who will graduate with at two Final Four appearances as she was part of that historic JRU squad that had advanced that far for the first time since the school decided to bring back the volleyball program in 2008.
“We’re very excited and very happy for the whole JRU community,” said Ms. Tioseco.
In contrast, it was a heartbreaking defeat for the Lady Pirates, who were seeking a date with destiny as they had never made it the playoff round in the sport since joining the first and oldest collegiate league in the land 11 years back.
Meanwhile, the league forfeited the non-bearing game between University of Perpetual Help and San Beda due to health reasons. — Joey Villar