NUNS sweep Adamson to stay unbeaten in UAAP girls volleyball

Adamson struggled to generate points of its own in the third set, reaching the board largely through NU-Nazareth miscues. A late 6-1 run, built on consecutive attacks from Bulandres and Deborah Olatunji, separated the teams for good.

Ellaine Gonzalvo paced the Lady Baby Falcons with 10 points on nine attacks and a block, adding nine digs in the loss.

Coach Karl Dimaculangan said preparation and execution held up because his staff expected Adamson to come out strong. He added that the unbeaten record is not part of the team's internal conversation.

"One game at a time, because we don't want to think about whether we're unbeaten or who the next opponent is," Dimaculangan said. "Our goal really is the championship. That's what I remind the players, to stay grounded."

FEU-Diliman avenges its first-round loss to UST

Far Eastern University-Diliman opened the second round by beating University of Santo Tomas, 25-23, 25-21, 24-26, 25-20, in an hour and 43 minutes. The Lady Baby Tamaraws improved to 5-3 and moved into a tie for third place.

MJ Udeagbala produced a match-high 27 points on 22 attacks, four blocks and an ace. Alexa Amana added 18 points on 15 attacks and three blocks, Emile Guivani set 24 excellent sets with five points of her own, and Querstine Paragas posted 14 digs and 12 excellent receptions on 24 attempts.

UST slipped to 6-2 and held second place, but its four-game winning streak ended. Nicole Pelaez led the Junior Golden Tigresses with 16 points on 14 attacks and two aces.

Coach Joanne Bunag pointed to blocking, floor defense and reception as the difference, noting that in the first round her team could not receive and could not establish a first ball. She said the target is the twice-to-beat advantage, worked for one match at a time.

DLSZ and Ateneo carry momentum into round two

De La Salle Zobel swept University of the Philippines Integrated School, 25-20, 25-20, 25-19, in an hour and 11 minutes to even its record at 4-4. Kylie Celada scored 10 points on eight attacks and two aces, Aislinn Alemaña added eight and Sofia Inandan six, with Zofia Limpot logging 10 excellent sets.

Ateneo de Manila University kept University of the East at bay, 25-20, 20-25, 25-14, 25-23, in an hour and 38 minutes. Jhenica Sadia poured in 21 points on 19 attacks, a block and an ace, Naihma Banal and Juliana Peregrino added 11 apiece, and Ainsly Santiago anchored the backcourt with 13 digs and 24 excellent receptions.

UPIS stayed seventh after a seventh consecutive defeat despite Anya Callo's 12 points, five of them blocks. UE remained winless, with Janah Sumagaysay's 13 points all coming from attacks.

What the second-round table shows

NUNS sits two wins clear of UST at the top, with FEU-Diliman and Adamson level in third. Bunag's reference to the twice-to-beat advantage frames what the upper half of the standings is chasing as the eliminations wind down.

FEU-Diliman's result is the more consequential of the round so far. It answers a first-round defeat to the team directly above it and suggests the reception problems Bunag identified have been partly corrected.

Adamson's slide is the number to track. Two straight losses have not yet cost the Lady Baby Falcons a share of third, but the margin for a third is thin.

The original report on these matches was published by tiebreakertimes.com.ph.