Jill Santos seems to be blending well with her De La Salle University teammates.
The 5-foot-10 Filipino-American recruit logged six attacks, four digs and four receptions during the Lady Spikers’ 25-22, 25-13, 25-23 win over University of the East, her longest stint on the court so far in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.
The 5-foot-10 Filipino-American spiker made the most of the opportunity, tallying six attacks, four digs and four receptions in just two sets of action in the Taft-based team’s straight sets triumph last Wednesday.
A former US NCAA player for the University of Illinois Chicago, Santos brings three years of international experience to the Lady Spikers’ camp.
Now under the guidance of 12-time UAAP champion coach Ramil de Jesus, she is embracing the challenge of transitioning into the country’s most decorated collegiate volleyball program.
“I’m grateful to have a lot of experience playing volleyball. I think I’ve been in my adjustment process, adapting to a new system of play,” Santos said.
“The thing that keeps me going is my teammates, first and foremost, and I have full trust in my coaches. We’ve been working hard every day, in and out of the gym. At the end of the day, whenever I’m needed, I hope I’ll be able to contribute to the team and help further their success.”
Santos is no stranger to the local volleyball scene. She previously played for both National University (NU) and University of Santo Tomas (UST) at the high school level.
Her first taste of the UAAP seniors’ division came in Season 84 as a reserve for Ateneo de Manila University, although she did not see court time during that campaign.
After wrapping up her NCAA career in the US, it was La Salle — her mother’s alma mater — that secured her commitment.
Now, with only two years of UAAP eligibility left, Santos is determined to maximize every opportunity — whether coming off the bench or playing extended minutes — as the Lady Spikers push toward the Final Four.
“We’re feeling good about our standing in the season so far. We’re at a good spot, but the work is not done yet,” she said.
With only three matches remaining in the second round, the Lady Spikers strengthened their hold on solo second place with an improved 8-3 win-loss record, pulling a full game ahead of third-seeded UST.
“We still got a few more opponents to face. We still need to work hard, build on that standing by collecting more wins, and we do that together as a team.”
“While we’re at second, we’re not gonna be complacent. We’re gonna continue working hard — even harder, actually.”
La Salle is set to return to action on 13 April, taking on the University of the Philippines at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in its last match before the Lenten break.