Lady Eagles scuttle Maroons, keep lead

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo neutralized University of the Philippines in the third set to complete a 25-23, 25-16, 25-23 sweep and roll to  its eighth straight win in the UAAP season 81 women’s volleyball yesterday.

The Lady Eagles, rattled by the injury that befell Lady Maroon Isa Molde in the second set, engaged in an even battle with UP in the third and saw themselves trailing at 18-20 before unleashing a strong finisher behind Bea de Leon, Maddie Madayag and Jules Samonte.

ADMU kept its hold of the top spot at 8-1 while UP, failing to sustain the momentum of its confidence-boosting sweep of La Salle in the eliminations, tumbled to the fifth spot at 5-4.

In the first game, Far Eastern University survived a rollercoaster battle with University of the East, toughening up at the finish to fashion out a 25-15, 16-25, 12-25, 25-22, 17-15 victory and crowd the second spot.

Ivana Agudo willed the Lady Tamaraws late in the fifth to raise three match points at 14-11 but the Lady Warriors turned the tide, seizing a match point of their own at 14-15 before FEU closed it out on a 3-0 tear.