Lady Blazers shoot for NC volley lead

MANILA, Philippines – Defending champion College of St. Benilde guns for the solo lead as it tangles with Mapua today in the women’s division of the 92nd NCAA volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

The Lady Blazers pulled off a pair of come-from-behind wins, turning back the Perpetual Help Lady Altas, 17-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-17, in last Monday’s season opener and repulsing the Letran Lady Knights, 25-27, 23-25, 25-22, 25-7, 15-12, to force a four-way tie with last year’s runner-up San Sebastian, San Beda and Lyceum of the Phl U.

Jeanette Panaga, the reigning Finals MVP, and Ranya Musa are again expected to lead St. Benilde’s bid with the duo emerging as among the top five scorers with norms of 17 points each.

St. Benilde coach Macky Carino, however, hopes his wards will be aggressive and play a more consistent game against Mapua, winless in two starts, in their 1 p.m. encounter.

“If we can play aggressive from start to finish, we’ll be okay,” said Carino.

In men’s play, Mapua guns for the solo lead as it squares off with St. Benilde at 2:30 p.m.

The Cardinals defeated the Jose Rizal U Bombers, 25-22, 25-15, 25-20, last Wednesday and the San Sebastian Stags, 25-19, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21, last Sunday to share the lead with the San Beda Lions.