Alyssa Solomon returns from 2-game absence as NU routs Ateneo for twice-to-beat

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Solomon recovers from injury as the Lady Bulldogs roll over reeling Ateneo to clinch twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament

MANILA, Philippines – Star spiker Alyssa Solomon made her triumphant return to defending champion NU as it ran circles around hapless Ateneo, 25-16, 25-15, 25-21, to clinch a UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball Final Four twice-to-beat advantage at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, April 13.

NU, the only team to have entered the Final Four so far, now holds an 11-2 record at solo No. 1 above other semifinals contenders La Salle (8-3), UST (8-4), FEU (8-5), and UP (5-6).

MVP frontrunner and two-time winner Bella Belen continued to stamp her case as the top individual player in three out of the last four seasons with another triple-double of 16 points off 12 attacks, 2 blocks, and 2 aces to go with 13 excellent receptions and 10-of-16 digs.

Solomon, who sat out with a minor ankle injury in the last two games, scored 11 as fellow veteran Lams Lamina tossed 17 excellent sets to help five teammates notch at least 9 points.

“I’m super excited to rejoin my teammates especially earlier in the game. We just showed what we were training for in the last few days and I’m very happy to have returned.”

Following back-to-back burials in the first two sets, Ateneo attempted to salvage a bit more pride in the third, keeping in step with rallying NU and stayed down by as few as two multiple times, the latest being a 23-21 deficit off a Lamina service error.

The glimmering hope of a far-reaching upset bid, however, proved short-lived, as Solomon hammered an emphatic kill for match point, 24-21, before former captain Erin Pangilinan shut the door with a surefire block on Zey Pacia to set the final score.

Lyann de Guzman and AC Miner scored 9 apiece as the Blue Eagles fell to a 4-9 slate still at seventh place and now assured of no higher than a sixth-ranked finish for the season. – Rappler.com