MANILA, Philippines – The Ateneo de Manila Lady Eagles withstood a shaky start and leaned on star Alyssa Valdez to edge the Adamson Lady Falcons in five sets and remain unbeaten in the UAAP Season 75 women’s volleyball tournament.

Ateneo moved to 6-0 this season after defeating Adamson, 22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 23-25 and 15-11.

Valdez, the league’s leading scorer, torched the Lady Falcons for 30 points, tying her career-high, on 23 attacks, three blocks and four service aces.

Behind their trademark sharp floor defense, Adamson won a back-and-forth opening set after taking advantage of late errors by the Lady Eagles, but Ateneo equalized as the Lady Falcons committed errors of their own in the second set.

The Lady Eagles took the third set comfortably, but trailed most of the way in the fourth set before rallying to take a 20-17 lead.

But behind Pau Soriano and Sheila Pineda, the Lady Falcons clawed their way back, tying the game three times before an attack error by Ateneo’s Dzi Gervacio gave Adamson set point. Soriano and Pineda then combined to block another attack by Gervacio, sending the match to a deciding fifth set.

In the final set, the two squads traded points before Adamson briefly took control to lead by two points twice at 6-4 and 7-5.

Valdez came up big for the Lady Eagles, however, with a kill then three straight service aces, allowing Ateneo to take the lead for good at 9-7.

Adamson would only threaten once more, after Mayette Zapanta scored twice to cut the lead to two, 11-13.

The Lady Eagles clinched the game with consecutive offensive blocks to win their sixth straight game.
Adamson dropped to 3-2 on the season.

In the first game, the defending champions De La Salle Lady Spikers easily dismantled the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 25-15, 25-8 and 25-8.

La Salle improved to 5-1 , while UP lost for the fifth time in six games in Season 75.