Early La Salle-Ateneo clash up

MANILA, Philippines — Holder La Salle will kick off its four-peat quest immediately against Ateneo in an early showcase of their storied rivalry in the soon-to-open UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament.

In the official schedule released by the league yesterday, the Lady Spikers and the Lady Eagles will face off on Feb. 17 at the MOA Arena to highlight an explosive opening weekend for the volleyball hostilities that actually begin the previous day over at the Filoil Flying V Center.

The hotly anticipated and well-attended La Salle-Ateneo duel normally takes place in the tailend of every round but their respective final ranking from the previous season, No. 1 and 3, sealed their encounter right in their maiden games.

Before the green-versus-blue rivalry, though, competitors for the men’s and women’s crowns will launch their respective campaigns on Feb. 16.

University  of the East and University of the Philippines open men’s hostilities at 8 a.m, serving as curtain raiser to the debut of repeat-seeking National U against Far Eastern at 10 a.m.

Contender UP Lady Maroons take the court versus UE Lady Warriors in the women’s kickoff at 2 p.m. followed by the 4 p.m. setto between last year’s runner-up FEU Lady Tams and new-look NU Lady Bulldogs.

Day Two’s slate features Adamson versus Santo Tomas and La Salle versus Ateneo in the men’s division, and the UST Tigresses and AdU Lady Falcons in the 2 p.m. appetizer to the Lady Spikers-Lady Eagles gig.