SPIKE. Kathleen Dela Cruz soars high for a spike in their game against the EAC Lady Generals. Photo by Angela Davocol/The LANCE.
Letran women’s volleyball team ended their season in a lackadaisical manner as the Knights settled for cellar-dwelling eight spot in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 94 volleyball tournament.
The team triumphed over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Lady Generals on their season-opener but failed to sustain their strong start as they lost their next six matches. The team snapped its losing spell when they won against the Mapua University but then dropped their next outing; finishing with a 2-7 slate, a win lower to their Season 93 campaign.
With the team’s roster composed of mostly rookies, team captain Miracle Mendoza pointed-out that the team lacks chemistry due to the players’ conflicting schedules.
“Hindi pa ganun kadalas ‘yung labas namin, hindi kami nakakapag bonding ng buo kasi graduating kami, sila bago pa lang. Hindi nagtutugma sched namin, kulang sa bonding,” said Mendoza.
That factor became the team’s hindrance as they had troubles closing-out crucial sets.
“Ang dami namin game na sayang. Ang ganda ng panimula pero hindi kami marunong tumapos. Lagi kami napapako sa malapit na score like 22 and 23 pero hindi namin matapos kung kailan malapit na,” she said.
“Painful talaga. Sobrang dami talagang chance namin na manalo and hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin nag si-sink in sa akin na mas bumaba ‘yung standing namin. Para naman sa mga bata, sobrang ganda ng nilalabas nila sa ensayo eh pero iba pa rin kasi talaga kapag game kaya ‘yung ineexpect ko sa kanila, hindi nila malabas,” she added.
Nevertheless, the graduating captain decided to look on the positive things that her team accomplished throughout the season.
“Hindi ‘man kami nanalo lagi, nakita ko naman ang improvement ng team naming. Sobrang laki na ng team namin. Kahit naman bago mga teammates ko, mga bata, makikita mo na parang hindi sila bago gumalaw; nag mature agad sila,” she said.
“Nahawa agad sila sa amin. Kahit naman na fresh sila, meron ka pa rin mabubunot sa kanila kapag kailangan na,” she added.
(First published on The LANCE's Jan-Feb 2019 Issue)