NIKOLE JAVIER 

Defending champion National University looks to hand De La Salle its first loss of the season at the close of the first round elims of the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday, March 22, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. 

After seeing its 20-game winning run come to an end at the hands of University of Santo Tomas last March 4, NU is seeking to perpetuate the same fate to La Salle and taint its perfect record when they meet at 2 p.m. to resume their rivalry. 

The Lady Bulldogs (5-1) will lean on the steady production of sophomores Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon and graduating team captain Cess Robles for their fourth straight win. 

However, the streaking Lady Spikers (6-0) will put everything on the line to extend their winning streak to seven games heading into the next round. 

Rookie Angel Canino and middle blockers Fifi Sharma and Thea Gagate who’ve had their breakthrough game defensively for La Salle recently, will be leading the charge to end their head-to-head misery over NU since Season 81. 

In the earlier play, Adamson (4-2) is raring to bounce back when it faces the struggling University of the Philippines (1-5) at 12 noon. 

The Lady Falcons are coming off a painful four-set defeat to the Lady Spikers. 

Out to lead Adamson is rookie Trisha Tubu.

But the equally eager Fighting Maroons are gunning to end their own three-game slide and rejoin the win column.