The Arellano University Lady Chiefs moved up the standings after notching a 25-18, 19-25, 25-18, 25-19 victory over the JRU Lady Bombers in the NCAA Season 97 women’s volleyball tournament on Saturday.
Arellano picked up its fourth win in five games to climb up to solo second place, just behind College of Saint Benilde (4-0) and ahead of San Sebastian and Mapua, which are both at 3-1. JRU, meanwhile, dropped to 2-3 after suffering a third straight defeat.
The Lady Chiefs and Lady Bombers split the first two sets in what looked to be a tight contest.
Arellano won the third set, but it seemed like JRU would bounce back in the fourth as they took a 7-4 advantage to open the set.
But the Lady Chiefs began to pull away after some big plays from Charmina Diño and Princess Bello broke open a 10-all tie and turned it into an 18-12 Arellano lead. They continued to pour it on until they held a 23-15 advantage before the Lady Bombers took three straight points to come back to within five, 23-18.
But a huge play from Trina Marice Abay put Arellano at match point, 24-18, and they eventually finished it off at 25-19.
Bello was on fire as she listed 23 points off 21 attacks and two aces, while Diño and Abay added 11 and 10 points each for Arellano. Cherry Mae Cuenca had 17 excellent digs and 13 excellent receptions while Kristine Adante made 17 excellent sets.
Meanwhile, Riza Rose tallied 13 points for JRU.
—JMB, GMA News
