MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATED) The Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles soared to the top spot of the standings in the UAAP Season 81 women's volleyball tournament after defeating University of the Philippines (UP) in straight sets on Sunday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

In the first edition of the "Battle of Katipunan" in the UAAP Season 81 women's volleyball tournament, the Lady Eagles cruised in the first two sets, then displayed tremendous poise in the third frame for a 25-21, 25-15, 28-26 triumph.

The Lady Eagles have now won four consecutive matches since a season-opening loss to De La Salle University, and their 4-1 slate puts them at No. 1 in the standings.

UP, coming off a five-set victory over La Salle last week, dropped to 3-2 -- good for only fifth in the standings.

"Mahirap ang game na ito, kasi alam mo ang UP, high morale, and they really played well, they really fought hard," said Ateneo coach Oliver Almadro. "But my players, they really seek deep inside them what they really wanted, and iyon ang nangyari."

"Sabi ko sa kanila, whatever you really want to happen, it can happen as long as you really want it and you can get it," he added.

Maddie Madayag scored 14 points -- including 6 kill blocks -- while Kat Tolentino had 12 points, and Ponggy Gaston contributed 10 markers. The Lady Eagles had a 39-32 lead in attacks, and benefited from UP's 26 unforced errors.

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They held off a late UP charge to seize the win in the opening frame, which saw them score 11 free points off the Lady Maroons' errors. Ateneo's offense then got untracked in the second set, and they peppered UP with 15 kills en route to the comfortable win.

The Lady Eagles looked to be on their way to another wide triumph after surging to a 14-8 advantage in the third set, off a quick hit by Bea de Leon.

But veteran spiker Marian Buitre sparked the Lady Maroons' resurgence, and with her at the forefront, UP slowly clawed their way back. UP's middle blockers got into the act, with a quick hit by Marist Layug making it a one-point game, 17-16, before Justine Dorog tied the count at 17.

It was back-and-forth from there, as Buitre kill forced a 23-all tie only for Tolentino to respond with a crosscourt attack that put Ateneo at match point, 24-23. UP saved a match point, thanks to Aeishalaine Gannaban, only for the middle blocker to send her serve short and hand Ateneo a 25-24 lead.

Layug game to the rescue again, firing a quick hit before Buitre scored an ace to put UP at set point for the first time in the game, 26-25.

Unfortunately for the Lady Maroons, it was Ateneo that executed better down the stretch. Madayag came up with a clutch block of Layug, and Dorog sent her next attack to the net. Setter Deanna Wong, who had struggled with timing her attacks all game long, redeemed herself with the 1-2 play that won the match.

"I really admire my players. They really played well," said Almadro. "Sometimes, I let them study on their own, talk on their own, alam nila ano gagawin nila, and I’m really teaching them how to be responsible."

"I guess my players are responding to the challenge I'm giving them," he said.

Skipper Tots Carlos was the only player in double-digits for UP, with 10 points. But she and fellow star Isa Molde struggled with their offense, and were subbed out at points in favor of other players as they failed to provide their usual numbers.

Buitre finished, Layug, and Molde each finished with six points, and Gannaban had seven markers for the Lady Maroons.

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