Streaking Ateneo de Manila University cruised to its eighth straight win after taking down ailing University of the Philippines, 25-13, 25-16, 25-23, Saturday to solidify its hold of the top spot in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament at the MOA Arena.

The Lady Eagles completed their elimination round head-to-head sweep of the Lady Maroons, who lost prized hitter Isa Molde early in the second set to a left knee and ankle injury, to improve to 8-1 win-loss record.  

Kat Tolentino led the way for Ateneo with 15 points coming off 11 attacks, three kill blocks and an ace while Maddie Madayag had 10 markers. Bea De Leon finished with nine points while Jules Samonte scored all but one of her eight points on kills including the match-clinching hit that sealed the one-hour, 35-minute duel. 

“(It’s) good we won. I think we got lucky. Kung titingnan talaga, we gave up a lot of errors. That’s on us. Sobrang break nun for us,” said Ateneo captain De Leon referring to the Lady Eagles’ 25 errors.

Ateneo came back from an 18-20 deficit in the third set with a telling rally to take a 23-21 lead sealed by a De Leon ace. Madayag put the Lady Eagles at match point, 24-22, before Tolentino sent her service long. Samonte finished the match with a slicing hit. 

The Lady Maroons lost Molde in the second set after the fourth year hitter landed awkwardly following a hit as she avoided landing on UP ibero Mirgie Bautista with Ateneo up, 4-0. She was stretchered off the court with an apparent left knee and ankle injury.

Molde was brought to the Philippine General Hospital for further tests.     

UP, which was swept by Ateneo in the first round, fell to a 5-4 mark.

Tots Carloshad eight points while Marian Buitre and Justine Dorog scored six markers each for the Lady Maroons.