Barbie San Andres displayed an all-around performance to steer Mapua University to a tight 25-23, 23-25, 25-20, 25-21 win over home court bet Arellano University in the NCAA Season 100 men's volleyball tournament on Saturday.
The seasoned outside spiker poured in 21 points anchored on 17 attacks, three aces, and a block as they recovered from a second set hiccup and improve to a 5-0 card for a share of lead with De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
The Chiefs, who were coming off a huge win against defending champion University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, fell to a 2-3 card.
Mapua shrugged off a slow start to fourth set after the Chiefs crew started hot in hopes to drag the undefeated Cardinals to a deciding fifth set.
The, however, Cardinals spoiled the party for Arellano, breaking a 15-all deadlock by unleashing three straight points led by a service ace from San Andres for an 18-15 lead.
San Andres unloaded two consecutive pipe attacks to give Mapua a 22-17 cushion while his outside kill through the two-man block of Arellano delivered the match point at 24-20.
Saint Jamisola then put the finishing kill by going for the opposite attack.
Ar-jay Ramos provided the help with 15 points and 12 receptions while Adrian Musni and Alvin Macadangdang chipped in 10 markers apiece to star in the well-balanced offense for Mapua.
Carl Berdal, meanwhile, paced Arellano with 13 points while two-time Best Setter Adi Villados churned out a rare double-double outing of 10 markers and 21 excellent sets in the loss.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
