Volleybelles from SWU struggle to keep the ball alive in a game against the USPF in a Cesafi girls volleyball match at the USPF gym in Lahug. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
THE JUNIORS volleyball teams of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) scored separate victories in the round-robin semifinals of the F2 Logistics Cesafi secondary volleyball tournament yesterday at the USPF covered court.
USPF’s boys’ team, the defending champion in the league, pulled off a 25-15, 25-17 victory over the University of Cebu (UC), but it was the girls’ team that made an impact as the belles of coach Yolanda Rizarri upset the powerhouse Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma, 25-22, 25-13.
The victory is again proof of USPF’s amazing turnaround this season with Rizarri at the helm. It can be recalled that this girls’ team missed the playoffs in last year’s competition. But since Rizarri took over the coaching chores from Apple Saraum in December 2016, USPF has since been on a roll.
USPF’s newfound spunk was evident yesterday as—save for a shaky end in the first set—Rizarri’s team controlled the game practically from start to finish.
Next up for the USPF girls squad will be UC, a team which the Panthers dominated in straight sets in the elimination round.
But Rizarri isn’t one who would want to her guards down, especially since UC has shown some shade of brilliance the past few games.
“No matter who our opponent will be, we will always do our best. We will always prepare for them,” Rizarri said.
In other girls semis pairing, the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) escaped a late surge from UC to pull away for a 25-15, 26-24 triumph.
In boys semis action, SWU-Phinma had to go tooth-and-nail against last year’s losing finalist University of San Carlos before hacking out a 23-25, 26-24, 25-23 victory in the semifinals.
The top two teams in each division after the single-round robin semifinals will advance to the best-of-three finals which will start Oct. 14.