Like a cheesy, romantic-comedy film, the DLSU Lady Spikers only needed a second chance to bounce back from their first round defeat to the UST Tigresses. Matching an eye for an eye, La Salle’s 21-25, 22-25, 21-25 setback in the first round provided much needed motivation for the Lady Spikers to display their A-game and win in convincing fashion, 25-11, 25-13, 25-17.
DLSU’s defense was clicking early, limiting the Tigresses to three attack points while scoring four points off the blocks in the first set. Racing to an 8-1 lead, and 16-10 by the second technical timeout, the Lady Spikers only gave up a single point while Ara Galang, Majoy Baron and Mika Reyes closed out the set by scoring two kills, a block, and a service ace respectively.
The second frame was very much a mirror image of the first as Baron, the league’s current leader in rejections nailed consecutive blocks for a 16-11 lead. One more Majoy block, DLSU’s eighth in set number two, together with a kill from senior Cyd Demecillo wrapped up the second set, 25-13.
Not wanting a repeat of their last match against FEU, the eight-time UAAP women’s volleyball champions wasted no time racing to double-digit leads of 16-6 and 20-10 before finally giving UST its first loss via straight sets this season. In the game versus the Lady Tamaraws last Sunday, the Lady Spikers were comfortably ahead by two sets to nil before a gritty and hard-fighting FEU six extended the game to a fifth set.
In the game that lasted almost two hours, DLSU coach Ramil de Jesus leaned on his veterans and deep bench to notch their first win of the second round. Carol Cerveza and rookie Tin Tiamzon, despite not playing the first four sets, came in and combined to contribute three crucial points while Demecillo scored five straight points that stretched La Salle’s 9-3 lead to 14-7 and gave the Lady Spikers match point.
The 25-14, 25-9, 22-25, 19-25, 15-7 win over FEU together with the revenge win against UST gives La Salle a share of the lead in the women’s team standings at 7-2. DLSU, based on their past three win, are slowly but surely rounding-out their championship form. Kim Dy and Demecillo have been repaying coach Ramil’s trust and decision to insert them in the La Salle starting six with solid contributions.
Dy, in particular, has been spectacular in La Salle’s past two wins, leading the team in scoring with 14 versus FEU and 12 points against UST, respectively. Channeling a more aggressive game unseen in her first two UAAP seasons, Kim’s best attributes are her kill percentage and versatility in offense. Not only did Dy had plenty of success against UST’s blockers, the former UAAP juniors MVP also got her points on a variety of normal sets and combination plays to confound the UST defense.
What has really changed for Kim is her improved demeanor and attitude after committing a reception error or foiled attack attempt; never getting too dismayed or negative when a play does not go her way. Look for Dy to continue her impressive play not only during the rest of the elimination round and playoffs but for the next two years as well.
With one loss already avenged, the Lady Spikers will take on the upstart and number three team, the UP Lady Maroons next Wednesday at the FilOil Arena and the Adamson Lady Falcons next Sunday at Philsports Arena.
Animo La Salle!