LAST YEAR’S champions White Sand and Cesafi champions Southwestern University (SWU) secured tickets to the semifinal round in the Rider Beach Volleyball competition yesterday at the Green Lagoon Park in Compostela town, north Cebu.
White Sand, which is composed of former national team players Jusabelle Brillo and Apple Saraum, beat the University of San Carlos (USC), 21-10, 21-10, University of the Philippines Lady Maroons (UP), 21-10, 20-22, 15-5, and ended the day with a 21-12, 21-13 triumph over Davao to top Group A with a 3-0 (win-loss) card.
Not to be outdone, the SWU pair of Therese Rae Ramas and Janelle Cabahug also scored three straight victories, winning over the University of Cebu Webmasters (UC), 21-10, 21-10, Tejero Volleyball Club (TVC), 21-11, 21-16, and UAAP powerhouse Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws (FEU), 21-16, 21-17 to lead Group B with a 3-0 (win-loss) slate.
Only SWU and White Sand are assured of semis seats as of press time.
Also putting up solid performances were the TVC and University of San Jose-Recoletos Lady Jaguars (USJ-R), who rebounded from their losses earlier in the day to place second in their respective groups.
USJ-R opened its campaign with a loss against UP but scored two consecutive wins over USC, 22-20, 21-12, and Davao 21-17, 21-18. TVC won over the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation Panthers (USP-F), 21-9, 21-13, and FEU, 20-22, 15-21.