Back-to-back victories went to the HAU Golden Guardians in both the women’s and men’s divisions of the second season of the Universities and Colleges Premier League (UCPL), as they bested the the University of Makati (UMAK) Lady Herons and the New Era Hunters (NEU), 3 – 0 and 3 – 1, respectively, on January 28.
Opening the second game of the UCPL at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Gymnasium, the HAU Golden Guardians attained a clean slate in women’s volleyball with a straight‑set victory over the UMAK Lady Herons, 25 – 17, 25 – 22, 25 – 21.
Team captain Leona Moira Perez, hailed as Player of the Game, cruised across the court with quick, forceful smashes and clean blocks that neutralized the opposing team’s attacks.
Later that day, despite being tied for most of the match, the HAU men’s varsity team edged the Hunters out in four sets of 27 – 25, 25 – 21, 23 – 25, 26 – 24, dropping only the third set.
Of the back-and-forth matches and tense opening sets, Arkie Montoya Manangan held her nerve — penetrating the opposition’s wall defenses and sending thundering spikes that kept the team afloat, clinching victory for HAU.
On January 26, the HAU women’s volleyball team notched a 3 – 1 victory over the Our Lady of Fatima University Fatima Phoenix in a tense four-set showdown, 25 – 20, 15 – 25, 25 – 20, 25 – 17. Princess Bazzar Viray stepped up in the pivotal moments, which sparked HAU’s comeback.
The Golden Guardians will face the Villagers Montessori College Phoenix in women’s volleyball, while the men’s team takes on the Regis Marie College Wildcats on January 30 at the Valenzuela Covered Court.
