National University Star Bella Belen against De La Salle University‘s blockers in their UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball clash. Photo from UAAP Media.

MANILA (UPDATED) — National University flexed its form against De La Salle University to remain spotless in the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament.

The Lady Bulldogs took care of business against the Lady Spikers, 25-19, 22-25, 25-20, 25-18, during their Sunday evening faceoff at the Mall of Asia Arena, and this allowed the reigning champions to tally their eighth straight win in as many games.

Season 87 MVP frontrunner Bella Belen had another impressive game for National U, putting up 23 points, 17 receptions, and seven digs, while Alyssa Solomon provided might with 19 markers and five digs.

"Yung composure lang nila, laging andiyan," said Lady Bulldogs head coach Sherwin Meneses during the postgame presser when asked about how they bounced back from their Set 2 loss.

"Wala nang madaling laro ngayon, nag-improve na yung mga teams, so dapat ready na kami sa bawat laro."

Other than staying composed, Belen said that one major factor for this is how La Salle showed how prepared they were for their highly-anticipated matchup. 

"Hindi po naging madali yung laban namin. Nahirapan po kami against La Salle, and in-expect namin na magiging mas mahirap siya kumpara nung first round," she said. "Kami naman, straight sets man o hindi, ang goal lang talaga is manalo."

"So kinailangan lang namin i-apply yung napag aralan namin sa training, and kanina naman, nakita ko kung paano bumawi yung team," she added.

After they saw their 16-11 lead in the fourth reduced to two, 19-17, Belen's off-the-block hit and errors from Angel Canino and Shevana Laput resulted in NU producing a 23-17 cushion. 

A crosscourt kill from Solomon then put the spikers from Jhocson Street at matchpoint, and another error from Canino -- a net violation that La Salle did not challenge -- eventually ended the game. 

Due to this, La Salle fell to 5-3, tied with Far Eastern University and University of Santo Tomas. 

It also spoiled Laput and Canino's impressive performances, with the former putting up 19 points on 16 attacks, two blocks, and an ace, while the latter scattered 15 markers, 21 receptions, and four digs.

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