Perpetual gains 2nd win in NCAA volley

MANILA, Philippines - Perpetual Help’s Keshia de Luna and April Ann Sartin overcame a serious challenge put up by Letran’s Gena Andaya and Manel Carolino as it eked out a 17-21, 21-15, 21-19 squeaker to nail its second straight win in the 86th NCAA beach volleyball tournament at the La Salle-Greenhills sand court.

The power-hitting Sartin delivered the game-clinching kill to propel the Lady Altas to the escape win in a match that lasted 42 minutes, the longest in this event organized by a committee chaired by Ding Lozano of Mapua.

In men’s action, Arellano U’s John Lozada and Chris Salvadro overpowered Letran’s Erickson Ramos and Rudy Gatdula, 21-7, 21-3, to roll to their fourth straight win and the solo lead.

The Knights fell to their first loss after stringing together three consecutive victories.

Perpetual Help improved to 2-0 to join St. Benilde on top of the women’s standings while Letran absorbed its first setback in three starts.

The Lady Chiefs of Mary Ann Calleja and Mary Jane Diane Ticar likewise won their recent match by downing the San Beda Lionesses of Cherry Mae Quizon and Coline Malana in another gripping three-setter, 21-17, 19-21, 15-8.

Quizon and Malana quickly bounced back by trouncing the Mapua pair of Rachelle Tan and Patricia Aquino, 21-17, 21-11, handing the latter a 2-2 (win-loss) record.

In the other women’s match, Jose Rizal’s Joanna Clemente and Marjanette Echano smashed Tan and Aquino, 21-8, 21-13, to also boost their stock.

In the juniors’ division, Perpetual Help trounced La Salle-Greenhills, 21-19, 21-11, Emilio Aguinaldo slammed Jose Rizal, 21-9, 21-4, and Arellano U edged Letran, 21-16, 18-21, 15-9.