SWU tossers absorb second loss in V-League

THE reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) women’s volleyball champions Southwestern University Lady Cobras started great but fell off in the end yesterday as they bowed to the National University, 25-20, 21-25, 17-25, 17-25, in the 9th Shakey’s V-League at the Arena in San Juan City.

The win kept the Lady Bulldogs’ quarterfinal hopes alive as Dindin Santiago fired in 31 points, highlighted by 25 kills that lifted their fightback from a first set loss in the match that lasted an hour and 41 minutes.

The painful loss was the second in as many games for the Lady Cobras. SWU started strong after taking an, 18-10 lead in the first set with import Genie Sabas defending the net well including several blocks on Santiago. Danika Gendrauli ended the set with a nifty drop shot.

Santiago, however, reasserted her might in the second frame, pouring in 10 hits as NU prevailed behind a 9-2 exchange, capped by Pablo’s two blocks. It was more of the same in the next two sets with the Lady Bulldogs sustaining their fine form and holding off the Cobras’ comebacks.

Maricar Nepomuceno, Rizza Mandapat and Myla Pablo backed Santiago with a combined 31-hit effort while Ivy Perez kept the team’s offense going with 30 excellent sets. NU came away with 50 kills to overpower SWU, which could only churn out a 33-spike production, including 13 from Gendrauli and 10 from Princess Anne Pido. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio