Ateneo Lady Blue Spikers
| Short name | ADMU Lady Eagles | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | Lady Eagles | ||
| Manager | Ramona Jessica Bagatsing | ||
| Captain | Julia Melissa Morado | ||
| League | UAAP Shakey's V-League ASEAN University Games | ||
| Uniforms | |||
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The Ateneo Lady Blue Eagles is the collegiate women's varsity volleyball team of the Ateneo de Manila University. They play in the women’s volleyball division of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).
The Lady Blue Spikers formed in 1975. They first played competitive volleyball when they joined the NCAA (Philippines) in season 51 (1975–76). The following year, season 52 (1976–77), the Lady Blue Spikers won their first and only NCAA women's volleyball championship. They were unable to repeat as champions in the NCAA because Ateneo de Manila transferred to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). The team did not win a championship for another 37 years. The team's first title in the UAAP came in season 76 (2013–14). They won the title again the following year in season 77 (2014–15) and became the first UAAP women's volleyball team to go 16–0 in a season.
In the UAAP, Ateneo has won two championships. These titles were won by the Lady Blue Spikers in Season 76 (2013–14) and Season 77 (2014–15), finally ending a title drought of more than 30 years in UAAP volleyball. Prior to their championships, the Lady Blue Spikers had six Final Four appearances (Season 70, 72, 73, 74, 75 and 76), with a second seed and twice-to-beat advantage in season 74 and 75. In season 72 (2009), the three Ateneo varsity volleyball teams -men's, women's and boys' were in the Final 4.
Sherwin Malonzo was appointed as the head of the volleyball program in 2008. In season 71 (2008–09), Roger Gorayeb was hired as head coach of the Lady Spikers. That same year, Ateneo began to recruit high school players. Five blue-chip high school players (Fille Cainglet, Jem Ferrer, Dzi Gervacio, Gretchen Ho and A Nacachi) were recruited. These players were later dubbed the Fabulous Five by the Ateneo community and fans. Another group of three high school players was recruited the following year. In 2010 Ateneo recruited UST high school volleyball player Alyssa Valdez , as well as 4 other high school players. Valdez was a national youth volleyball team standout, dubbed the "Phenom" by the sports press, and a three-time MVP in UAAP high school volleyball. . On January 20, 2013, she broke the UAAP volleyball record, by scoring 35 points (31 spikes, 3 blocks and 1 service ace) in the second round elimination game. Prior to her performance, the record had been 33 points, set by an Adamson player in February 14, 2009.
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