There was no shortage of drama and action in UAAP collegiate volleyball after seven games in the first round of Season 87.
As the league goes on a short break before the action resumes this weekend, One Sports takes a look at the key points and need-to-knows before the race for the Final Four heats up with the NU Lady Bulldogs trying to beat out the rest of the field and repeat.
But other title contenders like UST, La Salle, and FEU, are expected to dig deep to deny their foes.
Here are five takeaways from the first round of UAAP Season 87 volleyball action:
You need ‘perfect volleyball’ to beat the NU Lady Bulldogs
The NU Lady Bulldogs are on another level.
With elite hitters Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon still at the top of their games with NU, the Lady Bulldogs are still the formidable team that they have been last season, when they reclaimed the crown for two titles in the last three years.
As evidenced this Season 87, other teams can’t afford to blink or let their guard down against the Jhocson-based squad.
Even when contending teams like the FEU Lady Tamaraws and the UST Golden Tigresses achieved 2-1 set leads during their first round encounters against NU, they just couldn’t get over the hump because they let up in their challenge.
With championship experience on their side, Belen and Solomon continue to hold the fort against the toughest of challenges.
NU isn’t unbeatable, but it’s going to take everything, and a perfect day, for every other team to topple the Lady Bulldogs' reign.
Shaina Nitura is the real deal
When you have a debut game as big as Adamson’s Shaina Nitura, with a rookie-record 33 points, there’s always going to be a lot of hustle and bustle around your skills.
But unlike other one-game wonders, Nitura is a star that’s here to stay.
To end the first round, Nitura proved herself to be one of the best to ever do it in UAAP women’s volleyball, breaking the all-time scoring record for a single game with a whopping 38 points in a loss against the UP Fighting Maroons.
Now involved in conversations with the likes of Alyssa Valdez, Sisi Rondina, and others, Nitura is truly a generational talent.
Despite her efforts not translating to wins just yet, Nitura definitely has a bright future ahead of her.
The FEU Tamaraws are the team to beat
UAAP men’s volleyball has just the same level of drama, if not more, than the women’s tournament, and the FEU Tamaraws are at the forefront of action.
FEU, who squandered a top-seed berth in the Final Four last year, look to have finally learned their lesson as they currently tout a 7-0 record. Faced against the five-peat seeking NU Bulldogs, FEU has looked unstoppable.
With Mikko Espartero realizing his scoring prowess for the Morayta-based squad, the Tamaraws have proven themselves more and more dangerous.
Though it’s still hard to tell if they’re peaking too early, the FEU Tamaraws will definitely have targets on their backs come the second round and beyond.
UST can still vie for crown sans injured players
Don’t call UST undermanned.
The UST Golden Tigresses may be missing two key players in Jonna Perdido and Xyza Gula in their Season 87 bid, but they have hardly looked shorthanded this season.
Save for an early hiccup at the hands of FEU in their opening game, the Golden Tigresses have shown their potential to return to the championship round and contend against the mighty NU Lady Bulldogs.
With Angge Poyos continuing to grow her game in her sophomore year, the Golden Tigresses can surely put themselves in the title conversation.
Ramil de Jesus’ system is undefeated
Death, taxes, and Ramil de Jesus’ program.
Those are the things that continue to stand the test of time as the DLSU Lady Spikers continue to flourish under the 12-time UAAP champion coach. No matter who is on the taraflex for La Salle, de Jesus always finds a way.
Though the Lady Spikers are in an intense rebuild with the exit of key players who turned pro in the PVL, DLSU has slowly but surely reaffirmed themselves as contenders for the crown, albeit still a few steps away.
As evidenced by their five-setter against UST, La Salle can compete with the best of them, even in a year they consider themselves as rebuilding.
The race now heats up for position in the Final Four as the second half of Season 87 commences.