The Ateneo Blue Eagles during their bout against the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on March 24, 2024. UAAP Media

MANILA (UPDATED) – Ateneo de Manila University needed only three sets to beat their Katipunan neighbors, the University of the Philippines, in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament. 

The Blue Eagles asserted their authority over the Fighting Maroons, 25-14, 25-20, 25-15, on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. 

The Blue Eagles improved to 3-6 with the win, completing the sweep over UP in two rounds, while the Fighting Maroons continue to dwell at the bottom with a 1-8 card.

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Ateneo's Zel Tsunashima logged 13 attacks on 27 attempts and added three block points, while Roma Mae Doromal guarded the floor with 13 excellent receptions and eight excellent digs. 

The Blue Eagles, before the UP match, nearly completed a reverse sweep against league leaders UST Golden Tigresses. Tsunashima said she wants Ateneo to "always" show that level of game after wishing that they would stay consistent. 

"I'm very happy, of course na nanalo kami ngayon and we hope na we stay consistent. [After] the UST game, we know na our level and we hope that always namin 'yon mapakita. And coming into the round two, we hope na mas happy kami and mas aggressive talaga kami," she said. 

(I'm very happy of course that we won and we hope we stay consistent. After the UST game, we our level and we hope we always show that game. And coming into the round two, we hope we became happier and more aggressive.)

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Doromal, echoing Tsunashima's happiness over the win, said she also hopes her team would "embrace coach Sergio Veloso's system more." 

"Of course I'm very happy sa performance ng team namin. You know, sa susunod na games namin, hopefully maging aggressive pa kami and mas i-embrace pa namin 'yung system na ginagawa ni coach Sergio [Veloso] and tinuturo niya sa 'min," said Doromal. 

(Of course I'm very happy with the team's performance. I hope in our next matches, we'd stay aggressive and embrace coach Sergio Veloso's system more.) 

Doromal added that their target is still a postseason ticket. 

"Hopefully, makuha talaga namin 'yung Final Four." 

(Hopefully, we could get into the Final Four.) 

Ateneo put forth a 6-1 rally in the third frame for a 15-7 separation to effectively pull away in the match, coming from dominant performances in Sets 1 and 2.

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