Jose Rizal University finally ended its woes, barging into the win column after outlasting Emilio Aguinaldo College in five sets, 25-19, 21-25, 17-25, 25-19, 15-4, in the NCAA Season 98 women’s volleyball tournament on Friday.
JRU, which reached the Final Four last season, improved to 1-7 while EAC dropped to a similar slate.
The Lady Bombers opened the fourth set with a 5-0 start before turning that into a 19-11 cushion with Riza Rose, Mae Ruiz, and team captain Syd Niegos leading the way.
Jen Omapas got her game going in that frame, helping the Lady Generals come to within five, 22-17, but Rose nailed the last attack as JRU forced a decider.
JRU then unwrapped the fifth set with a 3-0 run before middle blocker Jaja Villlena delivered the first point for the Lady Generals, 3-1.
A 6-0 rampage from the Bombers saw them go up to a 9-1 cushion fueled by Rose alongside Niegos, whose powerful attack brought them to a 10-2 upper hand.
Ruiz clinched JRU’s match point, 14-4, before Omapas committed an attack error as JRU completed the comeback.
Rose finished with a team-high 22 points built on 17 attacks and five aces while Niegos churned out 17 markers. Ruiz, on the other hand, collected 16 points.
The win by JRU spoiled Krizzia Reyes’ 30-point explosion for EAC, who also got 11 markers from Omapas.
JRU will look to end its campaign on a high note on Sunday against no less than De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. EAC, on the other hand, will face Arellano University on Tuesday.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
