USC tossers hope to stay alive

THE University of San Carlos Lady Warriors aim to play spoilsport and stop the National University from barging into the quarterfinals as the two squads clash today in the Shakey’s V-League Season 10 First Conference at The Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Bulldogs have racked up back-to-back wins over the Arellano Chiefs and the Adamson Lady Falcons – both in four sets – in a big start for a team that struggled to finish seventh here last year. In fact, they shoot for no less than the second quarters berth after Group A leader and defending back-to-back champion Ateneo with odds heavily stacked on them in the 4 p.m. contest.

Still, the USC Lady Warriors are expected to pour it all out in a bid to stay in the hunt following two losses, including a five-set heartbreaker to the Arellano Lady Chiefs last week. They hope to neutralize the Lady Bulldogs’ vaunted firepower with their blocking prowess with guest player Abigail Praca leading the league in that department with six.

UST and SSC, meanwhile, tangle in the 2 p.m. opener with the former seeking a follow-up to its straight-set win over La Salle-Dasmariñas after bowing to Ateneo last time out. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio