USPF lady spikers upstage SWU, stave off title sweep

The lady spikers of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation paid back Southwestern University for the loss of the men’s team in the finals the previous day as they denied the latter of a championship sweep by winning the women’s crown with a thrilling 20-22, 21-16, 15-13 victory in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) beach volleyball tournament yesterday at the SWU sand court.

The pair of 2009 Nestea Beach Volley national champion Apple Saraum and Rochelle Rica  was a joy to behold as they stormed back from a 5-9 deficit in the deciding set to win the coveted crown over the fancied pair of Danika Gendrauli and Rapril Aguilar.

For the Lady Cobras, their nightmare in volleyball continued. They were denied of a fourth straight title in the indoor volleyball two weeks ago and it was déjà vu once more yesterday as their hopes for a third straight crown in the beach volley wars was derailed by the USPF wards of long-time head coach Thelma Datig.

The first set was a tight one as USPF came all the way back from a 15-20 deficit to tie the match at 20-all after a precise spike attack by Saraum.

But SWU kept its focus as Aguilar scored on a powerful spike and finished the set off, 22-20, with a service ace for a 1-0 set lead.

USPF was all business in the second canto as it gained a 17-13 lead off three straight service aces by Saraum.

SWU kept the pursuit and was within two, 15-17 but USPF stayed the course and tied the game at 1-1, after a crafty tap-in by Rica and a down-the-line spike by Saraum.

In the third and deciding set, it appeared as if SWU was headed to the finish line as it zoomed to a 9-5 lead after a push shot by Gendrauli.

However, USPF was not rattled and scored five straight points, three coming from Saraum, to take a 10-9 lead. The game was tied for the last time at 12-all when Gendrauli’s spike got tangled on the net and was followed by a net violation by the latter, which gave USPF set and championship point at 14-12.

Aguilar delayed the inevitable for a bit with a tip shot but Rica sealed the set and snatched the crown with a spike.

Third place honors was claimed by the University of Cebu as it won via default over the University of San Carlos.