Alvarez cops NCAA MVP volley plum vs Racraquin

Jose Rizal U’s Shola Alvarez edged San Beda’s Cesca Racraquin in a tight MVP race to snare the coveted individual crown in the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament yesterday.

Alvarez, who helped power the Lady Bombers to their very first Final Four appearance, averaged an impressive 21.3-point performance to emerge the best, according to Emilio Aguinaldo College’s Marlon Carlos, who chairs the NCAA group that organizes the volleyball event.

“The sacrifices I made are all worth it,” said Alvarez, from Catanduanes who suited up for the Premier Volleyball League’s Pocari Sweat squad.

The Lady Bombers, however, fell short in the semis, losing to the reigning champions Arellano U Lady Chiefs.

Alvarez’s teammate, newcomer Dolly Grace Versoza, was named the second best outside spiker. Versoza, however, lost the Rookie of the Year honors to AU’s Nicole Ebuen.

Other awardees were AU’s Jovelyn Grace Prado (First Outside Spiker), Perpetual Help’s Ma. Lourdes Clemente (First Middle Blocker), San Sebastian’s Joyce Sta. Rita (Second Middle Blocker), SSC’s Alyssa Eroa (Libero), SSC’s Vira Guillema (Setter) and AU’s Regine Anne Arocha (Opposite Spiker).

Perpetual Help’s Joebert Almodiel and Kirth Patrick Rosos, meanwhile, took the men’s and juniors MVP crowns, respectively.

Almodiel, who also bagged the Rookie and the First Best Outside Spiker plums, played a key role in the Altas’ nine-game elimination round sweep that netted them an outright berth in the best-of-three finals.

Perpetual Help’s Jack Kalingking and Warren Catipay also won the Best Libero and Setter honors, respectively.

Other men’s awardees were AU’s Christian dela Paz (Second Best Outside Spiker) and Kevin Liberato (First Middle Bocker), and San Beda’s Limuel Patenio (Libero) and Mark Christian Enciso (Opposite Spiker).