Lady Tams eye share of UAAP volley lead

Far Eastern U seeks to sustain the momentum of its upset win over Ateneo on opening weekend as it shoots for its second win and a share of the early lead against Adamson in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament at Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan today.

The Lady Tams, who fought back from one set down and wiped out a 1-6 deficit in the deciding fifth to stun the Lady Eagles last Sunday, head into the 2 p.m. duel with the Lady Falcons (0-1) brimming with confidence with an eye to tie the idle National U Lady Bulldogs at 2-0.

Defending champion La Salle and University of the Philippines carry the same objective in the 4 p.m. clash between two opening day winners.

“It’s a big morale boost for us,” said FEU coach George Pascua after breaking the Lady Tams’ spell against Ateneo dating back to Season 75. “Our instruction to the team is to aim for a good start so we’ll have a foundation for this campaign and knowing we beat Ateneo, it will give us more confidence.”

The three-peatseeking Lady Spikers and the Lady Maroons both went through the wringer before taking their first victories at the expense of Santo Tomas and University of the East, respectively.

“I was telling the team if we want to win, we have to hurdle the most difficult challenges each game,”DLSU tactician Ramil de Jesus, whose charges are still gelling especially with setter Michelle Cobb still looking to earn her stripe as Kim Fajardo’s replacement, said. “Hopefully, they can adjust for the second game especially Cobb, whom I expect to be a fast learner.”

DLSU also looks forward to having Kim Dy fit again after getting limited playing time due to hyperextended knee in the game against UST.

UP, meanwhile, barely avoided the blushes against lowly UE and will need to be a lot better today than the ones that committed 46 errors last game.

“La Salle, they have good service so we have to work on our passing and defense,” said UP mentor Godfrey Okumu.