Ateneo de Manila University’s AC Miner against Adamson University in their UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball clash. Photo from UAAP Media.

MANILA (UPDATED) — Ateneo de Manila University is on a roll in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.

The Blue Eagles have won three straight games after they defeated Adamson University, 25-23, 25-14, 25-23, during their Saturday afternoon clash at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

The Sergio Veloso-coached squad inched closer to .500 as they are now at 4-5, and among those who led the charge for them were AC Miner who finished with 13 points, seven digs, and three receptions, and Lyann de Guzman who followed with 12 markers, 13 digs, and 12 receptions.

"Sinasabi ko lang sa team namin na we need to fight in every game, bigay namin yung 110 percent namin," said de Guzman during the postgame presser. 

"We need to fight for every point na parang championship point na talaga. Actually, itong game na to sabi namin na for Zel [Tsunashima] itong game na to, ibibigay namin tong game na to para sa kanya," she added.

De Guzman was pertaining to their reverse-sweep defeat to the Lady Falcons in the first round wherein they not only lost grip of their 2-to-nothing advantage, but also Tsunashima due to a broken left tibia and fibula.

Fortunately for the Ateneans, and unlike their previous loss, things were different for them this time around. 

Again leading two sets to zero, the Katipunan-based spikers saw themselves down 17-16 in the third frame as a strong hit by Frances Mordi gave Adamson U the lead after her spike.

The Blue Eagles, however, quickly answered with four straight points which was capped off by an ace by Zel Pacia, and this allowed them to hold a 20-17 advantage late in the same set.

Ateneo then zoomed to a 24-21 cushion later on, but Shaina Nitura kept their hopes alive as she cut their deficit to one, 24-23, following her back-to-back hits. 

Unfortunately for the San Marcelino-based team, Nitura fell short of holding the fort for the Lady Falcons as her error in their last play eventually ended the game for Ateneo.

Nitura put up 21 points on 20 attacks and a block, and she complemented these with 11 receptions, and seven digs, but these were not enough as they have now lost five of their last six games.

Due to this, Adamson has plummeted to 3-6 in the team standings.