The Ateneo Blue Eagles program has a women's collegiate varsity volleyball team which represents the Ateneo de Manila University in the

University Athletic Association of the Philippines The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), established in 1938, is an athletic association of eight Metro Manila universities in the Philippines. The eight-member schools are Adamson University (AdU), Ateneo de Manila Univ ...

(UAAP).

History

The Ateneo Blue Eagles women's volleyball team was formed in 1975. They first played competitive varsity volleyball when they participated in the women's volleyball tournament of the NCAA (Philippines) in Season 51 (1975–76). The following year, Season 52 (1976–77), the Lady Blue Eagles won their first and only NCAA women's volleyball championship. They were unable to defend their title in the NCAA because Ateneo de Manila transferred to the

(UAAP) in 1978. The team did not win a championship for the next 37 years. 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 Eagles. That same year, Ateneo began to recruit high school players. Five blue-chip high school players (

Fille Cainglet Fille Saint Merced Nombres Cainglet-Cayetano (born January 30, 1990) is a Filipina volleyball player who last played for the Creamline Cool Smashers in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL). Fille also played for the Petron Blaze Spikers in th ...

Jem Ferrer Jamenea "Jem" Ferrer is a Filipina volleyball player. She was a 3-time UAAP best setter awardee while playing for the Ateneo university Lady Eagles volleyball team. She was a member of Fab 5 together with Dzi Gervacio, Fille Cainglet–Cayeta ...

Dzi Gervacio Angeline Marie Gervacio, also known as Dzi Gervacio, is a Filipino volleyball player. She is a former Ateneo Lady Eagles player and is the team manager for the Nxled Chameleons. She is known as the Queen of Jump Serve. Early life and education ...

Gretchen Ho Gretchen Ong Ho (; born April 19, 1990) is a Filipino broadcaster, television presenter and former volleyball player. She played collegiate volleyball for the Ateneo Lady Eagles from 2008 to 2013, where she was a member of the "fab five" who ...

and Ailysse Nacachi) were recruited, and were later dubbed the Fabulous Five by the Ateneo community and fans. Another group of five high school players was recruited the following year. In 2010 Ateneo recruited highly prized UST high school volleyball player

Alyssa Valdez Alyssa Caymo Valdez (; born June 29, 1993) is a Filipino volleyball player who currently plays for the Creamline Cool Smashers. She was a member of the collegiate varsity women's volleyball team of Ateneo de Manila University in both indoor ...

, as well as four 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 University player on February 14, 2009. In 2011 they won the championship of the

Shakey's V-League The Shakey's V-League was a non-professional volleyball league in the Philippines established in 2004. It began as a women's collegiate league with teams coming from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the National Coll ...

, a summer tournament which the Ateneo Lady Blue Eagles use as a preparation for the UAAP tournament. Their first title in the UAAP came in Season 76 (2013–14), and they won the title again the following year in Season 77 (2014–15), beating second-seeded De La Salle University in 2 matches. The sweep achieved a 16–0 season record (elimination rounds to championship round), a first for any UAAP women varsity team in the Final Four era. Their third and most recent title was won in Season 81 (2018–19). Prior to these championships, they had nine Final Four appearances (Seasons 70, 72, 73, 74 and 75), 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.

Notable players

* Charo Soriano * Fille Cainglet-Cayetano * Jamenea Ferrer *

* Denden Lazaro-Revilla *

* Jorella Marie de Jesus * Amy Ahomiro * Jia Morado-De Guzman * Bea de Leon * Maddie Madayag * Kat Tolentino * Deanna Wong * Faith Nisperos * Vanie Gandler

Honors

NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...

(1) **Season 52 (1976–77) *

UAAP The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), established in 1938, is an athletic association of eight Metro Manila universities in the Philippines. The eight-member schools are Adamson University (AdU), Ateneo de Manila Univer ...

(3) **Season 76 (2013–14) **Season 77 (2014–15) **Season 81 (2018–19)

References

{{Reflist Volleyball clubs established in 1975 University Athletic Association of the Philippines women's volleyball teams

History

Notable players

Honors

See also

References