National University (NU) and De La Salle University are set to write another thrilling chapter in their growing collegiate volleyball rivalry when they face off once again in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 women’s volleyball finals.

This marks the third time in the last four seasons that these two powerhouse programs meet in the championship round — a testament to their consistency, talent, and sheer will to win.

For NU, it’s a golden opportunity to defend the crown while La Salle is out to crash the party and cap an unpredictable campaign with the ultimate prize.

Game 1 of the best-of-three series unfolds this Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with both sides hungry to draw first blood and gain momentum in what promises to be a hard-fought series.

The rivalry began to take shape in Season 84 when the Lady Bulldogs completed a perfect 16-0 run — the first in the Final Four era — and swept the Lady Spikers in the finals.

That dominant stretch was headlined by then Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player (MVP) Bella Belen, who powered NU to a flawless title conquest.

La Salle, however, didn’t stay down for long. Led by their own rookie MVP in Angel Canino, the Lady Spikers responded in Season 85 with a 13-1 record, which included an elimination round sweep of the Lady Bulldogs.

They went on to edge NU in two consecutive five-set thrillers in the finals to secure their 12th UAAP championship.

Season 86 saw the rivalry cool briefly. The Lady Bulldogs reclaimed the title by defeating University of Santo Tomas in the finals, while La Salle settled for third place. But with both teams back in championship form, their paths were destined to cross again.

Statistically, NU remains one of the most complete teams in the league. They led the elimination round in spiking with a 35.74 percent success rate, aces with 1.60 per set, and setting with 6.23 excellent sets per frame.

On the defensive end, they topped the league in digs with 11.75 per set and posted a solid reception efficiency of 39.59 percent, second only to La Salle’s league-best 40.34 percent.

Though the Lady Bulldogs do not feature the tallest lineup, their system and discipline have allowed them to become the third-best blocking team this season, tallying 128 kill blocks for an average of 2.28 per set.

The Lady Spikers, with their height advantage and deep pool of middle blockers, hold the edge in this department with 2.33 blocks per frame.