NATIONAL University, the league’s perennial minnow that has turned into the blessed team of the tourney, ended 65 long and weary years of heartaches and reached the Promised Land last night.
Proving untouchable in a season to remember, the Lady Bulldogs turned back a game but outclassed La Salle side 25-15, 25-15, 25-22 to bag the title as the curtains fell on the 84th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Alyssa Solomon scattered a game-best 18 points built on 15 attacks and three blocks for NU, while season MVP and Rookie of the Year Mhicaela Belen added 16 hits off 13 spikes.
Ivy Lacsina and skipper and finals MVP Princess Robles also combined for 14 markers for the Lady Bulldogs.
The win, carved out before 12,621 fans, came on the heels of NU’s 25-20, 25-12, 25-22 triumph in Game 1 last Saturday.
The Sampaloc-based spikers became only the third team to post a season sweep in the league after La Salle in 2004 and Ateneo in 2015.
Belen earlier was feted as the league’s first-ever winner of the season MVP and top rookie plums in women’s play.
The award was handed out to Belen, who was also named Best Outside Spiker, in the awarding ceremonies before Game 2.
Belen became NU’s first MVP since Jaja Santiago in 2018.
Ateneo’s Faith Nisperos wound up second in the MVP race and 2nd Best Opposite Spiker, while Robles and Solomon finished third and fourth, respectively. University of Santo Tomas’ Eya Laure ranked fifth.
NU’s Camille Lamina took home the Best Setter award, while Gagate and Lady Bulldog Sheena Toring were the 1st and 2nd Best Middle Blockers of the season, respectively.
NU’s Jen Nierva won the Best Libero, while Solomon was adjudged Best Opposite Spiker.
The Lady Bulldogs zoomed to a fast start and handily took the first two sets.
Refusing to lie down and die, the Lady Spikers came up with a better fight in the third frame and led 20-17 on a Matet Espina service ace.
