MANILA -- National University-Nazareth School hopes to contend for the crown in the UAAP Season 87 girls' volleyball tournament, even after losing key players to graduation.

The Lady Bullpups open their campaign on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. against the UP Integrated School at the Paco Arena in Manila.

NU-Nazareth will now be led by Den Daylisan after the graduation of Season 85 MVP Kianne Olango, Celine Marsh, and Bienne Bansil.

Den Daylisan is the new leader of the NU-Nazareth girls volleyball team for UAAP Season 87. UAAP Media/File

The Lady Bullpups saw their three-season reign come to an end in February after losing to the Shai Nitura-led Adamson University.

READ: Adamson completes perfect season in girls' volleyball

READ: Adamson's Nitura is UAAP girls' volleyball MVP

In the first game of the triple-header on Saturday, the NU-Nazareth Bullpups go up against Far Eastern University-Diliman in a showdown of the previous boys champions at 9 a.m., while last season's runner-up University of the East and University of Santo Tomas take the floor in an equally interesting duel at 11 a.m.

Action resumes on Monday in a rare matchday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with girls' matches pitting UST and Ateneo at 1 p.m., and FEU-D and De La Salle-Zobel at 3 p.m., as well as boys contests between Adamson and UPIS at 9 a.m., and Ateneo and De La Salle-Zobel at 11 a.m.

With Abegail Segui as the new captain, the Baby Falcons won't see action until Wednesday, as Adamson sets in motion its girls' title defense against UST at 3 p.m.