Letran Lady Knights beat Mapua Lady Cardinals to claim first volleyball win

FELL in their season debut, the Letran Lady Knights bounced back yesterday by beating the Mapua Lady Cardinals in straight sets to claim their first victory in the 93rd edition of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Towed by the do-it-all Charm Simborio, the Murallabased Lady Knights, who lost to College of St. Benilde in their season opener last Friday, showed better stability and form to fashion out a 25-22, 25-17 and 25-19 victory in the first game of women’s play at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Simborio fired 16 points, 10 coming off kills and six from service aces, to lead the Letran attack.

Elizza Abitan and Kathleen Barrinuevo each tallied seven points for the Lady Knights while Glyssa Faith Torres and Rhoselle Urriza each had six points to give their team added prong which proved to be too much to handle for the Lady Cardinals. Letran fell behind early in the third frame, 9- 2, but found their bearing to stop the bleeding the rest of the way to outscore Mapua, 2310, and book the win.

Mapua’s Patria Peña had a game-high 19 points but they were not enough to stop the Lady Cardinals from dropping to their second loss in as many games this season.

“This is a good win for us. Games like this can help the players’ confidence moving forward,” said Letran coach Mike Inoferio following their win. —