De La Salle University held super rookie Casiey Dongallo to a career-low in points to trounce University of the East in straight sets, 25-21, 25-18, 25-10, in the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Wednesday.
The Lady Spikers raised their record to 4-1, good for solo second, while pushing the Lady Warriors down to their fourth straight loss at 1-4 for seventh.
Despite the win in 80 minutes though, De La Salle lead deputy Noel Orcullo admitted that they still hoped for a more dominant victory.
“Actually medyo nakulangan kami kasi nga yung first two sets hindi naging maganda yung galaw, mostly yung iniiskor ng kalaban puro errors. Sabi nga ni coach, bigyan niyo ng respeto. Parang nawala yung respeto nung first two sets,” said Orcullo.
After the first two frames where UE was stuck until the last part before ultimately letting go, the Lady Spikers brought out everything they got in the third by building a 19-6 lead.
Reigning MVP Angel Canino led La Salle with 17 points on 16-of-31 attacks while also tallying nine digs and seven excellent receptions.
Thea Gagate, the second-best blocker as of Sunday, made five blocks along with three attacks and an ace for nine points, while Shevana Laput also chipped in nine points and four digs in just two sets of action.
“Mas nagfocus lang kami more on sa bawi kasi yun nga sa first two sets, marami kaming errors masyado so mas nagfocus kami na ilessen pa yung errors,” said Gagate as they committed 21 errors while UE only had 14.
The Lady Spikers flexed in every scoring department, winning in spikes (45-25), blocks (10-3), and service (6-0).
Dongallo, who played middle blocker in the first two sets, was limited to just 15 points, after reaching the 20-point barrier in all four starts.
No other Lady Warrior scored more than three points.
The two squads will return to action on Sunday, still at the same Pasay venue.
De La Salle will face the winless University of the Philippines in the main game at 4 p.m. while UE will play earlier at 2 p.m. against the streaking National University.