CEBU CITY, Philippines – Despite putting up a determined performance, the University of San Carlos (USC) Lady Warriors were outmatched by the experienced Cignal HD Spikers, who claimed victory with a clean 3-0 win in their exhibition clash held at the opening day of the V-League Visayas tournament on Sunday, June 7, inside the gymnasium at the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Basak Campus.
The HD Spikers remained undefeated in Pool B of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), improving their record to 4-0 after securing another straightforward three-set win, with scores of 25-15, 25-18, and 26-24.
Even though they lost, USC head coach Grace Antigua saw the game as an important opportunity for her team to learn and grow.
It was truly an amazing experience for all of us. I'm really glad we got this special chance to compete against a strong PVL squad like Cignal," said Antigua to CDN Digital. "All I wish now is that my players were able to take away valuable lessons from this game which will help them in upcoming tournaments.
READ: **What You Should Know About V-League Visayas**
Antigua added that going up against experienced PVL standouts such as Gel Cayuna and Erika Santos provided her team with a valuable morale lift before their upcoming matches in the V-League Visayas tournament.
"This type of experience truly helps build self-assurance. That's exactly why I'm thankful we got this opportunity, and I hope the young women take that confidence with them as they move ahead," she continued.
The HD Spikers controlled the pace in the opening two sets, leaving little chance for USC to catch their stride. However, the Lady Warriors found momentum in the third set, jumping ahead with a 17-11 advantage fueled by strong performances from Angel Galinato, Rose Bisnar, Jerusha Atay, and current Cesafi Finals MVP Ghanna Suan.
But Cignal gradually reduced the gap until Jacqueline Acuña leveled the score at 19-19, turning the tide decisively in favor of the PVL team.
USC put up a tough fight, keeping the game tight and pushing for several tie scores towards the end of the set. However, Acuña's towering presence and precise attacking were just enough to overwhelm the Lady Warriors. She ultimately delivered the winning point to bring the score to 25-24, followed by Bisnar’s shot going out of bounds, sealing the victory.
On July 12, USC will kick off its official V-League journey as it faces off against the University of Cebu (UC) Lady Webmasters at the USPF Lahug gymnasium. csl