DLSU conquers women’s volleyball

De La Salle University (DLSU) captured the University Games women’s volleyball title over the weekend with a 25-17, 21-25, 23-25, 25-17, 15-12 win over De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde at the University of San Agustin gym in Iloilo City.
Thea Gagate top-scored for DLSU with 24 points on 16 attacks, six blocks, and two service aces; Jolina dela Cruz added 19 markers; while Ernestine Tiamzon contributed 12; and Leila Cruz – 11.
Trailing two sets to one, DLSU broke away from a tight fourth set to build a 22-16 edge. Gagate, dela Cruz, and Marionne Alba then came up with consecutive points to force a fifth and deciding set.
In the fifth, DLSU opened with a 9-5 advantage but Benilde clawed back to get the match to within two points before the DLSU widened the lead to 13-7 on conversions from Gagate and Dela Cruz.
DLSU reached championship point at 14-9 on a Gagate hit but allowed Benilde to come to within 12-12 before closing with a Cruz conversion.
Meanwhile, the University of Santo Tomas took third place.
In men’s volleyball, the inverse happened and Benilde secured the title with a straight set victory over DLSU./ASC, WDJ