MANILA, Philippines -- Ateneo de Manila University formally secured the top seed in the UAAP Season 81 women's volleyball Final 4 on Sunday, after laboring to a straight sets victory over the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors.

This marks the fourth time in the last five years that the Lady Eagles will enter the semifinals as the No. 1 seed. They were the third seed in Season 80, before going 12-2 in the elimination round to clinch the best record this year.

"Confidence-wise, definitely, it made our confidence higher as a team," said Ateneo middle blocker Maddie Madayag, who had 10 points in their 25-20, 27-25, 25-11 win over the Lady Warriors.

"But as we always say, we have so much more to improve on. We need to work on a lot of stuff pa," she added.

Kat Tolentino, who topscored for them with 11 points, agreed.

"We have to keep working harder, and we have to keep improving. We still have a lot to learn, like Maddie said," she noted.

• READ: Ateneo owns Final Four No. 1 seed

Tolentino also pointed out that the No. 1 overall seed does not assure the Lady Eagles of anything.

"Just because you're first in the eliminations, it doesn't dictate anything in the semis," she said.

The Lady Eagles stressed that they cannot show any complacency, even as they are matched up against a Far Eastern University (FEU) team that is missing rookie ace Lycha Ebon due to a knee injury. The Lady Tamaraws, who are currently playing defending champion De La Salle University as of press time, are already locked to the No. 4 seed.

Ateneo coach Oliver Almadro said they are not seeing Ebon's absence as an advantage.

"Alam naman natin ang FEU -- intact ang line-up nila, and they have a deep bench," he said. "So we really have to prepare kung sino man ang andoon."

The Lady Eagles swept their elimination round matches against FEU: they won the first round in a five-set thriller, clawing their back from a two-set deficit, before sweeping the Lady Tams in the second round.

The Final 4 figures to be a different situation entirely, and Almadro said this will be a chance for his players to show what they are really made of -- especially as they go up against the same squad that ousted them in the semifinals last year.

"It's a test of character for the team," said the coach. "Last year, sila ang magkatapat sa semifinals.

"Now, it's about time to show their character. It's about time to show our character. We have a chance now to show our real character," Almadro stressed.

"We will work hard, pray hard to show that character and to be back in the finals."

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