ICC spikers extend run, make UCAL semis

Immaculada Concepcion College (ICC) continued its amazing winning run to clinch the first outright semifinal berth in the women’s division of the PGFlex Linoleum-UCAL Season 9 Volleyball Championships held recently at the University of Batangas Millennium Gym in Batangas City.

With outside hitter Andrea Caparal leading the way, the ICC Lady Blue Hawks downed the Lyceum of the Philippines University Lady Pirates, 27-25, 25-20, 25-20, for their 6th straight win of the season and 16th overall since their grand title sweep last year.

The power-hitting Caparal displayed the form that won for herself the Season 8 Finals Most Valuable Player by firing 24 points built around on 21 attacks, two blocks and an ace.

Battling it out for the other automatic semis berth are the University of Batangas Lady Brahmans and the Philippine Christian University (PCU)-Dasmariñas Lady Dolphins, who sport 5-1 and 4-2 records, respectively.

The Lady Brahmans downed the Philippine Women’s University (PWU) Lady Patriots, 25-15, 25-20, 22-25, 25-10, while the Lady Dolphins outlasted the Olivarez College Lady Sea Lions, 23-25, 25-22, 25-14, 25-16.

PWU and Olivarez slipped to 3-3 and 1-5 in the standings of the event that has the full backing of the Smart, Puso.com, Hapee Toothpaste, Mighty Bond, Spalding, Maruyama, Gerry’s Grill, Crane, Vital Purified Water, and Akari.

Meanwhile, defending men’s champion UB Brahmans regained the solo lead with a 26-28, 25-22, 25-20, 12-25, 15-12 win over the PCU-Dasmariñas Dolphins to boost their own bid for an outright semis berth with a 5-1 card.

The Dolphins dropped to a share of second to fourth places with the LPU-B Pirates and ICC Blue Hawks – all carrying similar 4-1 cards.