Lady Eagles make it to quarterfinal round of 9th Shakey’s V-League tilt

THE REIGNING champions Ateneo Lady Eagles advanced to the quarterfinal round after defeating the National University Lady Bulldogs, 25-15, 26-24, 20-25, 25-14, in the ninth Shakey’s V-League at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

Fille Saint Cainglet and Alyssa Valdez led the offensive for Ateneo as they connived for 15 hits each.

They did the most damage in the fourth set, where they wrapped the win up for their second victory in as many games.

Angeline Marie Gervacio pumped in 13 hits while Ateneo’s Thai import Phee Nok Kesinee scattered 12.

But the two were most effective in defense by combining for seven blocks, including a game-high five by the Gervacio.

After convingly seizing the opening set, the Lady Eagles played a little complacent and paid dearly for it as the Lady Bulldogs snatched the momentum and even led by as many as four points, the last at 18-14.

NU appeared headed to taking the second set when Dindin Santiago, its guest player who suited up for the University of Santo Tomas last year, completed  a kill to make it a 24-22 lead.

But the Lady Eagles kept their cool and took the next four points, thanks to three Valdez spikes and a kill from team captain Gretchen Ho, who contributed seven hits, to save the set in the event backed by Mikasa and Accel and organized by Sports Vision.

NU fell to its second straight setback and closer to getting eliminated. Format states that only one team gets eliminated in the two groups. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio