NU snaps skid vs. slumping UP

Bella Belen blocks Nica Celis' attack. UAAP Season 85 Media Team

By Stewart Tan

MANILA—The National University Lady Bulldogs returned to their winning ways in UAAP Season 85 women's volleyball after a 25-21, 27-25, 25-20 sweep of University of the Philippines on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Bella Belen supplied 19 points and 11 excellent receptions to lead the Lady Bulldogs, which snapped its two-game losing skid to move up to 6-3 in the standings.

Cess Robles also returned to her usual role after being a service specialist in NU's previous game, making 11 points, while Alyssa Solomon added nine points.

Tied at 25 in the second set, UP's Marianne Sotomil committed a costly service error that set up Erin Pangilinan's clincher for the Lady Bulldogs, blocking Nikha Cabasac for the extended 27-25 set win.

NU then started the third salvo with an 8-3 flurry but could not completely pull away, needing the efforts of Robles and Belen to shrug off the Fighting Maroons and end the match in one hour and 37 minutes.

"Kanina kasi sabi ko sa kanila nung first round four sets kami ng UP so nagset kami ng goal na kailangan this time straight sets lang kung kaya," said Robles.

Alyssa Bertolano led UP with 12 points and 13 excellent receptions, while middle blockers Nica Celis and Niña Ytang had 11 and 10 points, respectively. They dropped to 1-8.