UNBEATEN National U eyes to move closer to a first-round sweep while four trailing teams scramble to stay at second spot as the women’s volleyball tilt gets to enjoy a solo spotlight in the UAAP Season 84 starting today at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Still unblemished in five starts, a win by the Lady Bulldogs in the main game at 6 p.m. against the lowly Far Eastern U (1-4) would move them a step away from wiping out the first round. Their last assignment is University of the Philippines.
UP (3-2) is tied with three other squads at No. 2 including La Salle (3-2), making their battle in the opener at 10 a.m. a crucial one. Streaking Adamson (3-2) and Santo Tomas (3-2) also figure in the same pivotal duel at 4 p.m.
On a two-game run after a winless start, reigning champion Ateneo (2-3) wants to crowd the middlepack of the standings against winless University of the East (0-5) as UAAP showcases the volleyball joust alone this time after an iconic finish of men’s basketball.
The Lady Bulldogs will be riding on their sizzling start that included commanding triumphs against contenders Ateneo, La Salle, Adamson and recently Santo Tomas over the weekend.
NU dropped only two sets in their five wins so far but is bracing for a tougher journey from here on according to coach Karl Dimaculangan.
NU will be facing a spirited FEU squad that suffered a four-set defeat against Adamson last weekend. — John Bryan Ulanday