De La Salle University extended its head-to-head winning streak over archrival Ateneo de Manila University to 16 games spanning nine years.

What was expected to be an easy win for the red-hot Lady Spikers turned a little bit interesting with the Blue Eagles putting up a tough fight that ended La Salle’s string of nine straight set victories.

But in the end, the Lady Spikers’ firepower and block party hosting prevailed to submit Ateneo, 25-14, 21-25, 25-15, 25-17, for a fourth straight win in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Untouchable in the first three games, La Salle was reminded by the Blue Eagles that they won’t give up without a fight.

The Lady Spikers yielded a set for the first time in the season after faltering in the final stretch of the second frame but quickly regrouped in the next two to tighten their grip of the solo lead.

“We always tell them not to take any team lightly. We relaxed in the second set since we had a huge lead in the first,” said La Salle deputy coach Noel Orcullo.

“Ateneo is really persistent in its floor defense and you can’t think that once you attack, it’s an automatic score,” he added.

Angel Canino scored 20 of her 21 points on kills with 11 excellent receptions and five digs to power La Salle to its 16th straight head-to-head victory over the Blue Eagles that started in the finals of Season 79 back in 2017.

Lilay del Castillo accounted for half of the Lady Spikers’ 16 kill blocks to finish with a career-best 18 points. Del Castillo’s blocks were the most by a Lady Spiker since Celine Hernandez had nine on December 9, 2007, in a 27-25, 20-25, 21-25, 25-16, 17-15 loss to Adamson University.

“Credit on those blocks is not solely mine. Credit also to our wing spikers because I won’t be able to time my blocks if they don’t position well and time our defense. I feel like these eight blocks are also for them,” the third-year middle blocker added.

Amie Provido had 17 points and rookie setter Eshana Nunag tallied 18 excellent sets in La Salle’s second straight match sans team captain Shevana Laput, who is still out due to an illness.

La Salle responded well after surrendering the second frame, erecting early leads to control the third and fourth sets.

La Salle tied the second set at 20. Ateneo answered with four straight points aided by back-to-back errors by the Lady Spikers for a 24-20 advantage.

Del Castillo saved a set point but Ana Hermosura shattered La Salle’s block to tie the match at 1-1.

The Blue Eagles absorbed a fourth straight defeat in as many games despite the 18-point effort of Hermosura and JLo delos Santos’ 15 points.

In men’s play, Far Eastern University preserved its unbeaten record with an easy suppression of Adamson University, 25-14, 25-21, 25-21, for a fourth straight win.

The Tamaraws stayed on solo top spot as they sent the Falcons to a third straight defeat in four starts.

Ateneo de Manila University survived an upset scare from De La Salle University in a 25-22, 25-18, 20-25, 20-25, 15-13, thrilling marathon battle for a 2-2 card.

The Green Spikers remained winless in four starts.