Lady Bullpups sweep elims

EVANGELINE Alinsug (left) leads NU to a sweep of eliminations.

National University-Nazareth School (NU) grabbed the outright Finals ticket while defending champion De La Salle-Zobel booked the remaining semifinals spot at the end of the UAAP Season 82 girls’ volleyball eliminations at the Blue Eagle Gym over the weekend.

The Lady Bullpups completed a 12-match sweep with a 25-17, 25-9, 20-25, 25-17 dismantling of Far Eastern University-Diliman while the Junior Lady Spikers scored a 25-13, 19-25, 25-21, 25-23 victory over University of the East.

In the other match, Adamson University clinched the third seed after sweeping University of the Philippines Integrated School, 25-11, 25-18, 25-8.

Evangeline Alinsug topscored for NU with 19 points, Alyssa Solomon uncorked 18 points while former Most Valuable Player Mhicaela Belen had an all-around game with 15 markers, 11 digs, and eight receptions.

Rookie coach Regine Diego knows that her Bullpups cannot rest their laurels.

“We have to recover better and we have to be on the perfect condition come Finals. We also have to iron out those small details because it could make or break our chances to win the title,” Diego said.

The Baby Tamaraws stumbled to their fourth-straight game and fell short of a Final Four spot with a 5-7 card.

Angel Canino led De La Salle-Zobel with 18 points on 14 hits, two blocks and two service aces while Gerzel Petallo chipped in 10 markers.

Coach Tina Salak was relieved that her Junior Lady Spikers made this far.

“I told them that we have to take advantage whenever we’re in control. We needed to secure this win,” said Salak after the Junior Lady Spikers finished the eliminations with a 6-6 card.

Kate Santiago unloaded eight aces to wound up with 18 points while Ayesha Juegos added 11 markers as the Baby Falcons settled for third with a 7-5 mark.

Adamson University coach Lerma Giron knows that her team must elevate their game in the stepladder semifinals.

“Actually, we still have a lot of flaws despite our victory,” Giron said.