Ateneo Women's Volleyball: That Five-Setter That Says Much About This Team’s Character

That Five-Setter That Says Much About This Team’s Character
Ateneo vs. FEU
21-25, 20-25, 25-20, 25-13, 9-15
words by rick olivares and picture by aly yap

If the defending champs were expecting a 1-2-3 match against the volleybelles from Loyola Heights then they were right.

At least for the first two sets. It seemed FEU was going to make short work of the visiting team notwithstanding the scores since they gave up many service errors that translated into Ateneo points. Behind the power plays of Rachel Daquis, Shaira Gonzalez, and Irish Morada, the home team seemed intent on sweeping Ateneo off the court.

In the first set, Ateneo immediately went down 0-5 behind the solid hitting and blocking of FEU and that ultimately proved to be the margin for the opener. By the second set, just when it seemed that FEU would coast on a 16-9 lead, the Ateneo Lady Spikers slowly came back behind Angeline Gervacio and points off the bench by Averil Paje. Soon they were tugging at the coattails of the Lady Tamaraws 19-21 and the defense was beginning to hold.

After Misha Quimpo stopped Daquis for a kill for a 5-4 lead in the third set, the Ateneo Lady Spikers seized the lead for good. It was their turn to give FEU fits as their defense held.

When the green and gold team threatened at 18-17, a service error by April Jose gave Roger Gorayeb’s team some breathing space. “Ewan ko kung naniniwala kayo sa sarili ninyo pero ako naniniwala ako sa inyo,” thundered the blue and white’s new coach. “Pakita ninyo kung sino kayo.”

Bea Pascual and Quimpo blocked Gonzalez on the very next play for another crucial point. And despite a service error by Jem Ferrer, the visiting team showed that they were for real when they rattled off the match’s final five points to take the third set and more importantly, the momentum.

As the teams changed courts for the fourth, FEU’s boss Nestor Pamilar sounded off a warning to his team, “Ginising niyo ang Ateneo. Tapusin niyo na kung di aabot to ng fifth set.”

It’s a young Ateneo team all right. They’re up against the defending champs that took down a mighty UST side in last year’s finals. The Lady Tams were in their homecourt with their cheering squad booming “Oh yeah!” with their every point. The Ateneans were not expected to win.

Oh yeah? During the fourth set, the FEU cheerleaders changed their tune to, “Oh, crap!”
The Ateneo volleybelles behind team captain Pascual and rookies Fille Cainglet and Angeline Gervacio walloped the champs 25-13 and sent doubts in their head as they took the fourth.

After a 2-2 score in the final set, a pair of check outs and a side error gave FEU the lead at the turn 5-8.

“Dito ako kinakabahan,” said Gorayeb in the sidelines as assistant Clint Malazo presided over the huddle. “Dito lumalabas yung pagkabata ng team.”

Ateneo stayed close at 8-11 after Pascual hammered home a point against Cherry Vivas, but that was the last gasp FEU’s lead was too great to overhaul.

When the game buzzer went off, an appreciative FEU crowd showered their opponents with hearty cheers.

They were not expected to win by their foes much less put up a fight. But Ateneo without fanfare or any trace of misplaced confidence took to the court and gave everyone a glimpse of what could be when they’ve jelled and added a few more pieces to the puzzle. They had played three straight five-setters and though have come short in two of them, showed their fighting heart.

After the match, you could see the pained look on many of the players’ faces. They may not understand it now as they can only see a loss, but they’ve got a winning attitude that should serve them well in the years to come.