Lady Falcons overran Lady Maroons

By Anthony Divinagracia Posted Jan 19th 2014

Adamson University stayed in line for a Final Four flight Sunday, dusting University of the Phillipines (UP) off its wings to get back on the winning track in the 76^th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the San Juan Arena.

The Lady Falcons pecked the listless Lady Maroons to submission, 25-15, 25-9, 25-19, as Adamson tied idle Far Eastern University for fourth place with an even 4-4 record.

Veterans Amanda Villanueva and Sheila Pineda led the Lady Falcons with 14 and 13 points, respectively while Mayette Zapanta, Faye Guevara, and Mylene Paat tallied nine apiece to underscore Adamson’s balanced attack.

Establishing itself from the get-go, Adamson dominated the match typified by its impressive statline. The Lady Falcons clobbered the Lady Maroons in attacks, 43-20, and nailed more service winners, 8-1.

UP’s defense though never lacked effort but it missed timing and coordination, allowing Adamson to streak ahead, 8-1, in the first set. The Lady Maroons managed to cut the deficit several times but Pineda proved relentless offensively and the Lady Falcons surged anew, 22-11, for good.

Errors continued to pile up for the Lady Maroons in the second frame and Adamson again seized the initiative behind Zapanta, Villanueva, and Paat who rocked UP’s defense with a variety of hits and aces en route to an imposing 18-5 lead beyond recall.

Down by two sets, the Lady Maroons tried to regroup entering the third. Julienne Caluglug and Sheeka Espinosa then responded to give UP an early 8-3 lead. But the Lady Falcons slowly recovered and grabbed the advantage, 11-10, which they held until the final kill.

None of the Lady Maroons finished in double-figures with skipper Angeli Araneta and Kath Bersonal logging in seven points apiece to pace UP, which fell to 1-8.