The UAAP Season 84 Women’s Volleyball semifinals will begin June 14 with a stepladder format. With the National University’s season sweep that earned them an outright finals berth, this signals their comeback as queens of volleyball since their last championship 65 years ago, in 1957.
The final four teams will battle it out to win the season’s championship after the collegiate tournament took a backseat, for two years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During Season 81, The Ateneo Lady Eagles (Now Ateneo Blue Eagles) bagged their third championship against the UST Growling Tigresses.
One Big Fight for the defending champions, Ateneo (8-6)
The roadblocks for the Season 81 champions, Ateneo Blue Eagles, started to crumble after eliminating the UP Lady Maroons. But the true litmus test was handed to them by Adamson Lady Falcons—the last team blocking their Final Four hopes alive. The defending champions solidified their number four ranking after dismantling the Lady Falcons in last Saturday’s game. They will meet the rank 3 team, UST, on June 14 at 6:30 PM in Mall of Asia Arena. The winner of the match will then proceed to Thursday’s game at 6:30 PM. The match with the rank 2 team, DLSU Lady Spikers, which holds the twice-to-beat advantage, will determine who NU will face for the finals.
Last growl for the Season 81 finals contender? (9-5)
The return of the UST Growling Tigresses to the finals in Season 81 broke the streak of Ateneo-La Salle finals showdown, which ran from 2010 to 2018. The feisty España squad, led by this season’s top scorer, Eya Laure, are one of the heavy favorites to win this year’s volleyball crown. However, the departure of an iconic player in Sisi Rondina was truly felt. The Growling Tigresses struggled to find another reliable scorer and defender to pair with Laure.
DLSU’s road to redemption. (10-4)
Meanwhile, the DLSU Lady Spikers, the winningest team in the past decade—winning six of ten seasons, are paving their way back to crown redemption after missing the finals in Season 81, snapping their record of ten consecutive finals appearances. It was the first time they dropped to third place since the suspension of La Salle in Season 69, which followed game forfeiture (ranked 6th) in Season 70.
NU Lady Bulldogs’ made their bite felt. (14-0)
The National University Lady Bulldogs are in peak form to win their third volleyball crown. The NU Lady Bulldogs swept the season, with a 14-0 record, after taming the FEU Lady Tamaraws in a thrilling three-setter match. The team of young and talented volleybelles is this season’s ultimate favorite to win the volleyball championship. Their consistency and high level of plays prove they are ripe and ready for their third title. They will have enough time to rest and prepare for whoever will win the battle against the second-seeded DLSU Lady Spikers and the winner of Rank 3 (UST) and Rank 4 (Ateneo) match-up.
Should the NU Lady Bulldogs take home the trophy, they will tie with Ateneo Blue Eagles with three championship under their belts.