Lady Chiefs overpower Blazers in PVL opener

Games today 10 a.m. – NU vs San Beda (men’s) 1 p.m. – Ateneo vs FEU (men’s) 4 p.m. – NU vs Lyceum (women’s) 6:30 p.m. – TIP vs San Beda (women’s)

Arellano U overwhelmed St. Benilde in a duel of the reigning and former NCAA champions, coming away with an emphatic 25-20, 25-22, 25-17 victory at the start of the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan yesterday.

Jovielyn Prado blasted in 14 hits, spearheading the Lady Chiefs’ attack against the Lady Blazers, whom they beat in the stepladder semifinals on their way to nailing their second NCAA women’s volley crown early this year.

Mary Anne Esguerra backed Prado with 13 markers while Necole Ebuen and Reginal Arocha chipped in nine points apiece and Andrea Marzan added six hits.

Arellano coach Obet Javier credited their early surge to his wards’ stints in the recent PVL Reinforced and Open Conferences.

“I told them to use their PVL experience and help motivate their younger teammates,” said Javier, referring to veterans Prado, Esguerra, Arocha and Marzan.

Playmaker Rhea Ramirez also dished out 34 excellent sets to help fuel the Lady Chiefs’ 47 attack points.

Ateneo, with four players churning out double-digit outputs, also blasted a listless Jose Rizal U side in three, 25-17, 25-15, 25-15, to seize the early lead in Group A.

Skipper Bea de Leon lived up to her billing as she led the Lady Eagles with 14 hits while Kat Tolentino scored 11 hits and Juliane Samonte and Madeleine Madayag added 10 hits apiece as the Katipunan-based squad dominated the Lady Bombers all throughout their 65-minute encounter. Ateneo had 45 spikes against JRU’s 22.