Four-peat-seeking National University (NU) went through the wringer before outlasting a depleted Adamson University side, 29-31, 25-22, 21-25, 25-21, 15-10, to start the second round of the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Lady Bulldogs had to fight back from a 1-2 match deficit and grind it out in the fifth set of the thrilling Pool E encounter that took two hours and 36 minutes to be decided.  

NU extended its winning run to four after surviving the Lady Falcons’ Nigerian winger Frances Mordi’s 27-point explosion in its first-ever five-setter in this preseason tournament.

Sophomore Celine Marsh led the way for the SSL National Invitationals Davao Leg champion with 19 points coming from 15 kills, three kill blocks and an ace.

NU, which squandered four set point advantages in the opening set, used a scorching 6-2 run in the deciding frame to finish off Adamson, which rested main gunner Shaina Nitura following a title romp in another league on Friday.

“Our biggest challenge was our tendency to lose our composure and rush our executions. That was our problem in the first set,” Marsh said.

Alex Mata had 16 points, veteran Vange Alinsug added 14 while Chams Maaya blasted 10 markers in the Lady Bulldogs’ much-awaited payback win over their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 second-round tormentor. Decorated setter Lams Lamina dished out 23 excellent sets while Shaira Jardio got 12 digs and 16 excellent receptions for NU.

“Our motivation was our eagerness to redeem ourselves because they beat us in the UAAP. That was on my mind. So we had to use our teamwork to win,” Marsh said.

NU raced to a 9-6 lead in the fifth set but allowed Adamson to answer with back-to-back hits from Lana Barrera and Lhouriz Tuddao.

A costly Barrera service error gave the Lady Bulldogs an opening to ignite a 5-1 run to reach match point, 14-9, after Marsh shut the door on Abegail Segui’s attack. Mordi saved a point before Mata hammered the finishing blow.

NU battles University of the Philippines on Sunday at 12 p.m. for a chance to boost its chances of clinching a quarterfinals twice-to-beat advantage.

Barrera scored 17 points to back Mordi, who got 26 of her markers from attacks, while Tuddao had 10 markers in a lost cause for the National Invitationals Cebu Leg winner.

The Lady Falcons seek to rebound against Ateneo de Manila University on Sunday at 2 p.m.