LOTS OF REASONS TO SMILE. USC volleybelle Christa Gonzales flashes a smile during a break of their game against CDU at the USC Main gym (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON).
THE UNIVERSITY of San Carlos (USC) Warriors men’s and women’s volleyball teams beat separate opponents to take the early lead in the standings of the Cesafi volleyball tournament yesterday at the USC Main gym.
The Lady Warriors, last year’s second runner up, slugged it out with the surprising Cebu Doctors’ University (CDU) Lady Stallions before escaping with a 25-19, 25-14, 25-21 win.
The Lady Stallions, comprised of intramurals players, put up some fighting resistance as they raced to an 8-4 lead capped off Gabby Carballo’s blocked shot.
Carballo, though, was unable to put her skills in full display as she was nursing a fever.
USC team captain Debbie Gamboa and Mia Malagar took advantage of the handicap as they lifted the Warriors back in the game, combining for 11 hits in the opening set.
The Lady Warriors got into their groove in the second set, racing into 14-6 start before finishing off the CDU with another 11-8 blitz.
CDU looked motivated in the third as they raced into a 16-9 advantage but Malagar and Hove Dela Silva were determined to end the game as they scored nine straight points in a pivotal 16-5 blitz for the Warriors.
Not to be outdone, USC’s men’s team came back from a set down to defeat the Cebu Intitute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats, 24-26, 25-17, 25-22, 25-19.
Both USC teams are now at the top of their divisions with identical 2-0 (win-loss) cards.
In the men’s division, the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers rebounded from a loss to USC last Saturday and beat the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers, 25-21, 25-20, 19-25, 25-14.
In other women’s games, the Southwestern University Lady Cobras joined the Lady Warriors on top of the women’s standings after defeating the University of Cebu Lady Webmasters, 25-12, 25-18, 25-21, while the University of San Jose-Recoletos Lady Jaguars rebounded from their loss in the opening day and downed the USPF Lady Panthers, 25-8, 25-12, 25-20.