MANILA, Philippines -- The De La Salle University Lady Spikers booked their third straight win, but it didn't come easy.
The defending champions needed to grind out a difficult four-set win against the rookie-laden NU Bulldogs, 25-10, 20-25, 27-25, 25-22, to stay unbeaten Wednesday in the 81st UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
Gutsy plays from the NU side had the Lady Spikers on the edge almost all game.
Fortunately for the Taft-based squad, career games from Aduke Ogunsanya (13 points), May Luna (14 points), Jolina dela Cruz (12 points) and Lourdes Clemente (5 points) gave them enough leverage to survive NU's challenge.
It was a dominant start for the Lady Spikers in the first set, with Ogunsanya bombarding the NU defense with her attacks.
The young Lady Bulldogs looked hapless against the three-time defending champions.
DLSU finished the set early, 25-10, to draw first blood.
But NU quickly recovered in the second set.
Counting on the services of Ivy Lacsina and Princess Robles, the Lady Bulldogs were able to play at pace with DLSU.
Taking the lead in the middle of the set, National U just never looked back.
With errors plaguing the DLSU side as well, NU was able to steal the second set, 25-20 to even things up at one set apiece.
Come the third set, it looked like the Lady Spikers were finally back in shape.
The Taft-based volleybelles zoomed to a 5-0 start to open the third.
Despite the Lady Spikers holding the advantage well into the middle of the set, the Lady Bulldogs were able to slowly chip away at the DLSU lead.
Once again relying on Lacsina and Robles, NU eventually caught up with the Lady Spikers to a 16-all deadlock.
Both squads then traded hits back-and-forth. But Clemente proved to be a game-changer for DLSU as they squeak past NU for the 2-1 lead, 27-25.
Determined to close out the Lady Bulldogs in the fourth, DLSU once again started hot.
They led NU, 7-3, early in the fourth set.
But the gritty Lady Bulldogs didn't make anything easy for DLSU.
Fighting for every point, NU kept at pace with the Lady Spikers.
Despite being in the lead, DLSU always had National U breathing down their necks.
Fortunately for DLSU, Desiree Cheng took the reins in the endgame to lead her team to a perfect 3-0 start.
Robles and Lacsina led the way for the pesky NU squad with 18 and 16 points, respectively.
The Lady Spikers will put their perfect record to the test again on Saturday when they face the UP Lady Maroons.