UAAP hampasan season is back.
Volleyball season is here, it's real, and boy it's jampacked.
The UAAP released its initial volleyball schedule for Season 85 and it will also mark the return of the men's competition since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A lot of eyes, though, will be on the women's tournament, right after the National University Lady Bulldogs dominated the competition in Season 84. Here are some of the matchups to watch.
NU Lady Bulldogs vs Ateneo Blue Eagles: February 25, 2023 | 2:00 PM
Opening day, opening clash between the defending champions and the former titleholders. But you can be sure it's going to be a different kind of ball game with several Lady Bulldogs transferring to the pros. Season 84 MVP, Rookie of the Year, and First Best Outside Spiker Mhicaela Belen will nonetheless still be in the spotlight against Second Best Outside Spiker Faith Nisperos.
NU Lady Bulldogs vs UST Golden Tigresses: March 4, 2023 | 2:00 PM
And it was all yellow.
Eya Laure was an unstoppable scoring machine for UST in Season 84, garnering a total of 272 points. But volleyball is a team game, and they fell short in the stepladder semifinals to end up at fourth place. This match-up against the champs will be an acid test for the Golden Tigresses, who will also have Imee Hernandez and the Filipina-Italian Milena Alessandrini recovering from her injury.
Ateneo Blue Eagles vs De La Salle Lady Spikers: March 5, 2023 | 3:00 PM
The Ateneo and La Salle rivalry will never die, whether in basketball or in volleyball. Last season, the Lady Spikers maximized their twice-to-beat advantage to sweep Ateneo in the second round of the stepladder semifinals. Can the Ramil de Jesus-coached squad continue their winning ways when they face Coach Oliver Almadro's team?
Adamson Lady Falcons vs Ateneo Blue Eagles: March 12, 2023 | 2:00 PM
The Falcons and the Blue Eagles were tied at fourth place at the end of the preliminaries in Season 84. It took three close sets before Ateneo could dispatch of Adamson. Leading setter and team captain Louie Romero is sure to be hungry for redemption in their rematch.
NU Lady Bulldogs vs De La Salle Lady Spikers: March 22, 2023 | 2:00 PM
Finals rematch, here we go. We just want to see a scoring showdown between Mhicaela Belen and Alleiah Malaluan, a block party with Sheena Toring and Thea Gagate, and a battle of the minds between Camilla Lamina and Marionne Alba. Oh, and five extended sets please. It's not too much to ask.
