UAAP women’s volleyball has taken the big stage since its return to action from the pandemic in UAAP Season 84.
At the same time, rookie players consistently performed well for their respective teams as they reached deep into the tournament — with some winning championships in their first year.
As evidenced by subsequent years of rookie MVPs in Bella Belen and Angel Canino, rookies are no longer considered as newcomers in the league that need to take time to adjust but are the one that are setting the standard.
On Sunday, Adamson’s Shaina Nitura shattered the rookie scoring record with a 33-point performance in a reverse sweep victory against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, a trend that would likely continue in Season 87.
While it remains to be seen if Nitura can sustain the same caliber as the rookie MVPs before her, she’s already the talk of the town after opening weekend.
Before Nitura tests her mettle anew when they face the DLSU Lady Spikers on Saturday, let’s take a look at some of the biggest performances by a first year player in recent years.
1. Bella Belen (UAAP Season 84, 2nd round) - 19 points, 21 exc. receptions, 10 exc. digs vs Ateneo
There will be others, but NU’s Bella Belen will always be the first-ever rookie MVP in UAAP women’s volleyball after leading the charge for NU’s 16-0 sweep in UAAP Season 84.
Though there are a lot to choose from, among Belen’s best performances is when she showcased her all-around greatness with a 19-point triple double in NU’s four-set win over then-defending champions Ateneo.
After a slow start by the Lady Bulldogs, Belen uncorked a performance where she finished with 19 points, 21 excellent receptions, and 10 excellent digs to recover from an early one-set deficit against the Blue Eagles.
Belen and the Lady Bulldogs would eventually win the crown to give NU its first UAAP women’s volleyball title in 65 years.
2. Angel Canino (UAAP Season 85, 2nd round) - 28 points vs Adamson
Despite Bella Belen coming as a revelation for the UAAP when she starred for the NU Lady Bulldogs in Season 84, the league didn’t have to wait long to have its second rookie MVP as Angel Canino lived up to the billing for the DLSU Lady Spikers.
From the get-go, Canino was clearly a talent for the ages, but one of her best performances came when she notched a career-high 28 points in a five-set win over the Adamson Lady Falcons to clinch the twice-to-beat advantage for the Lady Spikers.
After losing in two games to NU the year before, Canino’s prowess for the Lady Spikers helped them exact revenge to clinch La Salle’s first title since 2018.
Canino towed La Salle back to the top via a reverse sweep in Game Two of the Finals against Belen and the Lady Bulldogs.
3. Casiey Dongallo (UAAP Season 86, 1st round) - 30 points vs FEU
Though set to join the UP Fighting Maroons, there is no doubting Casiey Dongallo’s impact in the UE Lady Warriors’ volleyball program as she ignited a drive for the Final Four in UAAP Season 86.
Emerging as one of the future stars of the league, Dongallo showed signs of excellence early.
In the first round of UAAP Season 86, Dongallo then set a new rookie scoring record which will later be shattered by UST’s Angge Poyos with a 30-point performance in a 5-set win over the Adamson Lady Falcons.
Despite missing out on the Final Four with UE, Dongallo was a consistent source of offense for the Lady Warriors, who ended up with a 3-11 slate.
4. Angge Poyos (UAAP Season 86, 2nd round) - 31 points vs Adamson
Lighting struck twice in UAAP Season 86 as two rookies emerged as top performers in the women’s volleyball tournament, with UST’s Angge Poyos tossing her name among the rising stars of the sport.
Though her first year was marred by injury in the latter part of the season, Poyos ended up taking Rookie of the Year honors as she helped UST reach the finals for the first time since UAAP Season 81.
One of her best performances came in the second round when she uncorked a new rookie scoring record of 31 points in a big win over the Adamson Lady Falcons to clinch a spot in the Final Four.
Poyos finished second in the league in scoring that year, behind Dongallo.
5. Shaina Nitura (UAAP Season 87, 1st round) - 33 points vs Ateneo
The newest rookie to take the league by storm is Adamson’s Shaina Nitura, who erased all records before her with a 33-point barrage against the Ateneo Blue Eagles in her first game in the UAAP women’s tournament.
While the feat is already impressive in itself, it becomes even more exceptional when you think about Nitura’s lack of experience under the bright lights of the women’s game.
Though an MVP in her own right during her high school days, Nitura proved that she could just as succeed in the collegiate scene and help the Adamson Lady Falcons reach greater heights.
One thing’s to be sure, after making herself known in just her first day on the job, Nitura can safely assume she’ll have a target on her back.
She first tests her mettle again when she collides with Angel Canino and the DLSU Lady Spikers on Saturday, February 22.