MANILA, Philippines – After a disappointing campaign in Season 79, the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons are banking on a new coach to lead them in Season 80.

Last season's record: 7-7

What happened in Season 79?

There were high expectations for UP in Season 79, as the Lady Maroons made a breakthrough Final 4 appearance in Season 78. They still had their three seniors in Kathy Bersola, Nicole Tiamzon, and Pia Gaiser.

At the start of the season, everything went according to plan for UP. They won their first four games, including a massive upset of defending champion De La Salle University in their third game of the tournament.

After a loss to Ateneo de Manila University, however, everything fell apart for the Lady Maroons. They won just three more games the rest of the way, and missed the semifinals.

Making the season even more painful was that UP lost Gaiser to a knee injury midway through the tournament. The senior missed the rest of the second round of Season 79.

The drama continued in the offseason, with Jerry Yee in limbo as their head coach even as they competed in the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference.

The Lady Maroons replaced Yee with Godfrey Okumu in November.

Key losses: Kathy Bersola, Nicole Tiamzon, Pia Gaiser, Coach Jerry Yee
Key additions: Coach Godfrey Okumu
Key returnees: Isa Molde, Tots Carlos, Ayel Estrañero, Justine Dorog

Now what?

The UP Lady Maroons will look quite different in Season 80. Their three stalwarts – Tiamzon, Bersola, and Gaiser – have all graduated, leaving young players like Isa Molde and Tots Carlos to carry the load.

The man walking along the sidelines has also changed. Yee, the coach who brought in high-profile recruits and steered UP to the Final 4 is gone, replaced by Okumu, who is not a stranger to UP, having worked with the Lady Maroons in Season 79.

The Lady Maroons acknowledged that the change takes some getting used to.

"It's a new system, and a totally different coaching style," said setter Ayel Estrañero. "We're still trying to adapt. We're still trying to get used to it, because it's really different from the past system."

"There are certain difficulties in adjusting," she added. "But the team is adapting as well, as much as they could. They're trying to internalize everything that coach is telling us."

Okumu, for his part, stressed that all he wants is to help the Lady Maroons improve. He has seen how they failed to make the semifinals last season despite boasting of a talented line-up, and believes he can help them make a breakthrough this year.

"I'm not trying to change the way they play. What I'm trying to do is to improve whatever they have, so that they can make it faster. If they can spike, then spike stronger. If they can pass, then they can pass better. So everything, I'm trying to improve," he explained.

"So I hope by changing the speed, the way they pass, the way they spike, and improving their power, I think we will get somewhere," he added.

The biggest loads will be carried by Molde and Carlos, who should now be the top offensive options for UP. After playing last year as a libero, Justine Dorog is also tipped to return to an attacking position. Much is expected of Marian Buitre, who showed flashes of potential last year but has yet to play with any consistency.

The player who can hold everything together for UP is Estrañero, who made her debut as a setter in Season 79. She was shifted back to libero in the PVL Collegiate Conference, but will serve as UP's playmaker again in the UAAP.

"I just have to focus on myself and try to get better every day," said Estrañero.

What can we expect?

There is no doubt that UP has talent in its roster. Carlos developed into an impressive player last year, and Molde remains one of the best up-and-coming open hitters in the UAAP. Estrañero should be much improved after a year of playing the setter position.

But they have plenty of question marks everywhere else. Who replaces Gaiser and Dorog as libero? Will their middle blockers step up to fill in the void that Bersola has left? How will Okumu adjust to coaching in the UAAP?

The Lady Maroons themselves know that they have quite a lot to prove, but don't want to make any promises right now.

"I can't expect much from the team," Estrañero said. "But I can say that we're just really gonna do our best, and play our game every game."

UP opens its campaign on February 4 against University of the East.

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