Amidst another anticipated turbulence, high-flying Ateneo is out to sustain its flight against no less than its fierce rival La Salle to keep its title retention bid alive in the second phase of the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament stepladder playoffs.
Dragged into an unchartered territory as the lower-ranked squad, the reigning champion but fourth-seeded Blue Eagles defied odds in three straight elimination matches with hopes of extending it anew against the Lady Spikers.
But the Blue Eagles are ready in a bid to stay afloat with unbeaten National University that is already in the finals as their ultimate target. Buoyed by massive wins against University of the Philippines to gain a tie at fourth and against Adamson in a playoff match to qualify in the stepladder, the streaking Ateneo rolled past Santo Tomas with 25-23, 25-23, 25-20 victory the other night to climb the ladder.