THE SAN BEDA Women’s and Men’s Beach Volleyball Teams secured competitive standings on the opening day of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) after both teams garnered 1-1 and 2-0 records, respectively, at the Sand Court, Subic Freeport Zone yesterday, February 4.
The Lady Red Spikers, composed of Angel Mae Habacon, Reyann Cañete, and Kat Molina, started their campaign against the Mapúa University (MU) Lady Cardinals during the morning session.
During this season’s team, the duo of Habacon and Cañete saw action for the Lady Red Spikers’ first match of the tournament. A back and forth affair saw both teams trade jabs in the opening moments of the first set, with the Lady Red Spikers building distance with an 8-5 advantage after an error from Mapúa and two service aces. The momentum picked up for the Mendiola-based squad, running away with the set one win, 21-12.
The second set was a similar story as the first, with both teams remaining neck and neck until the Lady Red Spikers took a 12-9 lead into the technical timeout of the set. A late run of consecutive points from Mapúa was quickly answered, the duo in red finished the match with a 21-15 set two victory and a 2-0 match score.
In the afternoon session, the second match of the Lady Red Spikers was an opposite showing from the earlier match. Facing off against the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Lady Pirates, the Lady Red Spikers failed to find their footing. Both sets were closely contested in the opening stages, with the Lady Pirates’ consistency in the latter stages of the set being the difference. Falling in two sets, 15-21, 13-21, the San Beda Lady Red Spikers ended the opening round of the tournament with a split 1-1 slate.
Meanwhile, the Red Spikers, represented by Axel Van Book, Edwin Kasim, and Aidjien Rus, opened their Season 100 run in dominant fashion, finishing the first day with two wins.
The Red Spikers won the first set against the Cardinals, 21-16. Despite dropping the second set, the Red and White retook the match by winning the third set, 15-10, to claim victory over the MU Cardinals.
In their afternoon match, the Red Spikers faced off against the LPU Pirates. Despite a close first set, the Mendiola squad managed to break through the Pirates’ defenses, taking the set, 21-19. The Red Spikers then made quick work of the second set, winning 21-15 to breeze past the Pirates in a convincing 2-0 victory for their second win of the day. The competition will last until February 7.