SHS-AdC, USC draw first blood

CEBU, Philippines - The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu belles and University of San Carlos boys took Game 1 of their respective best-of-three championship series in the juniors division of 2016 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc., volleyball event at the USC gym yesterday.

SHS-Ateneo inched closer to a championship in the girls class after a three-set sweep of University of San Jose-Recoletos, 25-15, 25-19, 25-13. SHS-Ateneo girls will try to seal the deal in Game 2 at 1 p.m. today.

Losing in the preliminary round against USJ-R, SHS-AdC girls were extra motivated as they scored a sweet victory.  They posted a 2-0 advantage that demoralized USJ-R girls.

Meanwhile, Southwestern University settled for third place after beating USC girls, 25-22, 19-25, 25-23.

USC’s boys squad, on the other hand, survived a thrilling five-set match against the previously undefeated University of Southern Philippines Foundation, 25-16, 25-22,17-25, 16-25, 15-13.

The Warriors have not beaten the Panthers during the elimination round, but started strong as they won the first two sets.

USPF came back and managed to force  a deciding set, but USC spikers played with bigger hearts as they applied tight defense and connected with some powerful spikes to defeat the Panthers.

With the game tied at 13-all in the fifth set, Gwyndharell Guy blocked USPF’s Edmar Malata for USC’s 14th point as Dwen Anthony Mixdon sealed the win with an ace.

Earlier, USJ-R nabbed the third place trophy in the boys division after a 25-22, 19-25, 25-23, victory over University of Cebu. (FREEMAN)