The UP Women’s Volleyball Team (UPWVT) scored another reverse-sweep victory at the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament.

The UPWVT, led by Casiey Dongallo, Jelai Gajero, and Niña Ytang, defeated the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs 16-25, 16, 25, 25-22, 31-29, 18-16 on Feb. 28 at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

After losing the first two sets, the Fighting Maroons found their rhythm back in the third frame.  They raced to a 21-13 lead, but the Lady Bulldogs refused to give up and came within a point, 21-20. The Fighting Maroons, however, stood their ground and survived NU’s scare to snatched the third set.

It was a tight contest between the Fighting Maroons and Lady Bulldogs in the fourth set, until NU slowly pulled away in the latter part. Down by three points, 21-24, the Fighting Maroons then scored three consecutive points courtesy of two solid net defense by Ytang and Gajero, and the latter’s down-the-line attack. The Fighting Maroons eventually took the extended fourth set to arrange a fifth and deciding set.

The two teams then engaged in a nip-and-tuck affair from the get go of the final set. The Lady Bulldogs then seem to coast for the win when they got the match point, 14-12. In the next rally, Ytang scored on a running-back quick before blocking NU’s Arah Panique’s attack to tie the score, 14-14.

The Fighting Maroons found themselves again trailing by a point, 16-15, after NU’s Vange Alinsug scored via a combination play. The UPWVT, however, kept their composure as Dongallo scored from an off-the-block attack, and Bienne Bansil scored from a solid net defense, before punctuating the game with a quick hit.

Dongallo top scored for the Fighting Maroons with 20 points, coming from 18 attacks and two blocks. Gajero added 19 points, Ytang posted 18 points built from 10 attacks, seven blocks, and an ace, while Bansil scored 10 points, five of which came from block points.

Fighting Maroons Krizzie Madriaga and Irah Jaboneta also had outstanding performances. The former had 17 excellent sets and scored two points, while the latter, who played as libero, produced 16 excellent receptions and 13 excellent digs.

The Fighting Maroons are set to play against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws on March 8, 3 p.m., at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

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