University of Perpetual Help System DALTA finally barged into the win column of the NCAA Season 97 women's volleyball tournament after a 26-24, 25-18, 25-19 sweep of Colegio de San Juan de Letran on Friday.
With the victory, Perpetual now holds an even 1-1 record while Letran went down to 0-2 after opening the season with a loss to JRU last Tuesday.
The Lady Altas took advantage of Letran's early pile of errors as Perpetual secured its second set point, 25-24, off a service error from Letran's Julienne Rose Castro. Charmaine Ocado then closed out the opening frame with an open attack, 26-24.
With Letran still struggling to connect come the second set, Perpetual was able to establish a much-needed 16-12 cushion following an error from the service line by Letran's setter Natalie Estreller.
Mary Rhose Dapol, who had been effective all game long, then went for an attack that gave them a 21-17 lead. Up 24-18 after a Razel Aldea conversion, Perpetual sealed the second frame with Dapol finding a hole in Letran's back row defense, 25-18.
The Lady Knights fought back in the third, going into the first technical timeout holding a slim 8-7 lead but Perpetual answered back with a 9-6 swing led by Dapol and Ocado as they enjoyed a 16-14 cushion.
That advantage stretched to 22-17 after a miscommunication on the side of Letran as Perpetual moved points away from a sweep win. Perpetual's attacking playmaker Jenny Gaviola went for an attack for the match point before her ace capped off the victory for the wards of head coach Sandy Rieta, 25-19.
Dapol led Perpetual with a game-high 15 points to go along with 12 digs while Ocado contributed 12 markers in the win. Cha Cuñada was the lone bright spot for Letran after she posted seven points.
Perpetual will look to make it back-to-back wins when it goes up against EAC on Tuesday while Letran goes for its maiden victory against College of Saint Benilde on Sunday.
—JMB, GMA News
