By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The College of St. Benilde (CSB) Lady Blazers moved closer to back-to-back titles after a 25-17, 25-19, 25-19 sweep of the Lyceum Lady Pirates in Game 1 of NCAA Season 98 women’s volleyball finals at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Tuesday, April 11.

Gayle Pascual led the way with 15 points built on 12 attacks and three blocks, while Jade Gentapa chipped in nine markers for the defending champion Lady Blazers.

Aside from moving closer to their second straight NCAA women’s volleyball championship and third overall, the Lady Blazers also extended their winning streak to 28 games.

Despite coming off a three-week break to sweep the elimination round, the Lady Blazers showed no signs of rust as they hacked the inexperienced Lady Pirates for a 25-17 Set 1 win.

The Lady Blazers continued to show their dominance in the second frame as they jumped to an early double-digit lead before preventing a fight-back attempt by the Lady Pirates.

CSB opened the third set with an 8-3 lead following a block by Lady Blazers’ Zamantha Nolasco on Lady Pirates’ Jaja Tulang. It later grew to 16-9 following a block by Pascual on Lyceum’s Johna Dolorito.

The Lady Pirates showed some fight late in the third frame as they cut the deficit to 19-23, but they committed a net violation. Lady Blazers’ Weilyn Estoque ended the match with an attack point.

Bacolod City-native hitter Joan Doguna was the lone bright spot for the Lady Pirates with nine points, while Tulang managed just seven markers in the defeat.

Meanwhile, University of Perpetual Help Altas stepped closer to a third straight NCAA men’s volleyball title after sweeping San Beda University Red Spikers, 25-20, 25-16, 25-22, in Game 1 of the finals.

Louie Ramirez tallied 17 points on 16 kills, while Jefferson Marapoc and Joshua Zareno provided back up with 13 and 10 markers, respectively, for the Altas./ASC, WDJ