NATIONAL University Nazareth School booked a quarterfinals ticket and completed a four-game sweep of Pool D at the expense of University of Sto. Tomas 25-14, 25-23 yesterday in the 2025 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) Rising Stars Cup Division 1 at the La Salle Green Hills Gym in San Juan.
The reigning UAAP and Palarong Pambansa champions rallied from three points down in the closing stretch of the second set with a telling 5-0 run to stay unbeaten heading into the knockout stage of the country’s biggest grassroots volleyball league backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea.
Denesse Daylisan led the way with nine points coming from eight kills and one kill block for NUNS. Harlyn Seneche and UAAP MVP Samantha Cantada added seven markers each for the top seed Lady Bullpups, who forged a much-anticipated clash with UAAP finals victim and Pool A No. 2 seed defending champion Adamson University in the quarters on Thursday.
Jacob starred in NUNS’s fight back from 20-23 deficit by sparking the closing run with a smart hit followed by a Serneche attack. UST committed back-to-back errors in the next play before Jacob iced it with a booming spike.
The Junior Tigresses missed the playoffs after a sorry 2-2 card finish.
NUNS opened the day with a 25-18, 25-10 domination of listless University of the Philippines Integrated School.
Visayan powerhouse Bacolod Tay Tung wrapped up Pool B unscathed in four outings after crushing Holy Rosary College 25-17, 25-22, in its opening session before a quick work of Chiang Kai Shek College 25-16, 25-11.
The Thunderbolts set up a collision course with Pool D second seed Far Eastern University-Diliman in the next round.
De La Salle-Lipa clinched a quarters ticket after defeating Holy Rosary College 25-19, 25-18, to end its elims run in Pool B with a 3-1 mark.
Arellano University also emerged unbeaten in pool play following a sweep of Pool C capped by a 25-15, 25-18, triumph over De La Salle-Zobel A.
