Ateneo stars Alyssa Valdez and Marck Espejo are set to be named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the UAAP Season 78 Volleyball competition of their respective tournaments according to an announcement revealed to the media by the UAAP. Women’s volleyball superstar Alyssa Valdez is set to receive her third consecutive MVP trophy.
Alyssa Valdez leads the Ateneo Lady Eagles to an impressive 12-2 elimination round record and a place in the UAAP Women’s Volleyball Finals against arch-rival La Salle Lady Spikers.
The graduating Ateneo star Alyssa Valdez also won a fourth straight Best Scorer award, and a third straight Best Server trophy during the past few games of the UAAP Women’s Volleyball competition, which is considered as one of the most popular event in the country’s major university sports tournament.
Marck Espejo on his part, considered as the leader of the men’s volleyball team of the Ateneo Blue Eagles, has been named the MVP of the men’s volleyball tournament for the third consecutive season as well.
During the last year’s tournament, Espejo also won the league’s top individual award in every year that he has played for the Blue Eagles and even dubbed by sports analysts the country’s best open spiker in any volleyball tournament in the Philippines.
The Ateneo star led his team to a very impressive 13-1 elimination record and a third straight Finals appearance. He was also named the tournament’s Best Spiker and Best Server.
Aside from the Ateneo superstars volleyball players, National University’s Jaja Santiago won Best Spiker honors in the women’s division, while La Salle’s Mary Joy Baron is the Best Blocker. La Salle veteran Kim Fajardo earned the second Best Setter award of her career, while La Salle libero Dawn Macandili swept the defensive awards, winning the Best Digger and Best Receiver trophies.
University of the Philippine standout Isa Molde earned Rookie of the Year honors. In the men’s division, La Salle’s Raymark Woo won Best Scorer honors, while University of the East’s Edward Camposano is this season’s Best Blocker. NU’s James Natividad is the Rookie of the Year in the men’s tournament.
Ateneo setter Ish Polvorosa, meanwhile, won Best Setter honors for the third straight season. NU’s Ricky Marcos was named Best Digger, while Far Eastern University’s Rikko Marmeto earned the Best Receiver award.
According to the organizers of the UAAP Volleyball competition, the awards will be officially handed out on Wednesday, ahead of Game 2 of the men’s and women’s volleyball finals which will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.