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Sweet 16! Ateneo completes season sweep to take UAAP women's volleyball 2-peat

Ivan Saldajeno
By Ivan Saldajeno

PASAY--Last year, La Salle raced to a 14-0 elimination round sweep but squandered a thrice-to-beat advantage and lost to Ateneo in the UAAP women's volleyball finals.

On Saturday, the Lady Eagles accomplished all the things the Lady Spikers failed to complete.

Ateneo became the first women's volleyball team in league history to finish the season 16-0 after sweeping La Salle, 25-22, 25-17, 25-23, in Game 2 of the Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena.

But unlike the opener on Wednesday, the Lady Spikers appeared to be bucking the absence of Ara Galang and Camille Cruz.

La Salle raced to a 12-9 lead in the first set and later led, 19-17.

However, Ateneo used a 6-0 run to take a 23-19 advantage.

The Lady Spikers stayed in the set after making three straight points, but Jia Morado and Alyssa Valdez finished the job for the Lady Eagles.

After a smooth Set 2 win, the Lady Eagles found themselves down by five, 5-10, in the third set.

But they regained control and a surprise twin kill by Morado sealed their second consecutive title.

Valdez, the season MVP, led Ateneo with 20 points, while Amy Ahomiro, who was later declared the Finals MVP, added ten.

Mary Joy Baron scored nine markers to lead La Salle.

Ateneo's conquest was the first volleyball season sweep after the UST men's volleyball team went 17-0 in 2009.