By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers demonstrated their championship pedigree by securing their second consecutive victory in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament on February 21, 2024, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Following a dominant performance against the Adamson University Lady Falcons for their opening win, the Lady Spikers maintained their momentum with a comprehensive triumph over Far Eastern University (FEU) with set scores of 25-20, 25-17, 25-22, advancing their win-loss record to 2-0.
Libero Lyka De Leon emerged as the defensive lynchpin for DLSU, finishing the match with 16 excellent digs and 12 excellent receptions. Her contributions were pivotal, especially as FEU found their offensive groove midway through the second set and threatened a comeback in the closely contested third frame.
Despite DLSU establishing a comfortable 19-13 lead in the third set, FEU rallied to narrow the gap to 22-23. However, De Leon delivered three crucial digs in the tense final moments, thwarting FEU’s scoring attempts.
The Lady Spikers initially struggled with errors, but middle blocker Thea Gagate quickly turned the tide with her defensive prowess and efficient quick hits. Gagate inspired a DLSU run in the first set with back-to-back blocks and a decisive middle attack set up by Julia Coronel.
Buoyed by Gagate’s impactful opening performance, the rest of the Lady Spikers rallied to decisively close out the match. Shevana Laput led DLSU’s offense with 10 points derived from seven successful attacks, while Gagate contributed eight markers, including three blocks.
The Lady Spikers are set to continue their quest for an undefeated season as they face the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses, who are coming off an upset victory over the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs, on February 25, 2024.
