Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/sports2/04/09/rica-diolan.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">NU&#x27;s rookie setter Rica Diolan. Arvin Lim, <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/volleyball/photos" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports</a></div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – It is no secret that the setter position has been an especially touchy subject for the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs in recent seasons, with the team&#x27;s coaches struggling to find a playmaker who can maximize the presence of Jaja Santiago.Ivy Perez and Jocelyn Soliven alternated setting duties in previous years, and with the addition of rookie Rica Diolan to the line-up, head coach Roger Gorayeb now has three setters to choose from during games.There were games wherein Gorayeb would send in Perez to start, only to replace her with Soliven in the second set before subbing in Diolan in the third. At times, the substitution would happen in the middle of sets as the coach tried to find the right setter who could make the team click.(READ: <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2016/04/05/by-numbers-dramatic-finish-10308" target="_blank">By the Numbers: Dramatic Finish</a>)In recent games, however, it appeared that Gorayeb has settled on the rookie Diolan as his setter.Diolan started – and finished – in NU&#x27;s last three games, and had solid performances in those contests. Most recently, she tallied 44 excellent sets in a five-set win over University of Santo Tomas, a follow-up to another impressive game against University of the Philippines wherein she had 32 excellent sets in a straight sets win.&quot;Ever since naman, siya lagi ang (sinasabihan) ko, kasi siya na sa susunod na mga panahon. S&#x27;ya na eh,&quot; Gorayeb told ABS-CBN News after NU&#x27;s five-set win over UST last week. &quot;Hindi ko na iintayin na mawala pa si Ivy.&quot;&quot;Ang kulang lang talaga kay Rica ay height,&quot; he added. &quot;Doon lang talaga, tsaka binabago ko &#x27;yung mga bad habits niya sa paglalaro.&quot;Gorayeb explained that he is still trying to correct some of Diolan&#x27;s fundamentals, including a tendency to kick out her left leg whenever she does running sets. Yet the veteran coach has always seen great potential in the young Diolan, even back when she was a high school sophomore in Davao.&quot;When she was in second year high school, nire-recruit ko na sana &#x27;yan,&quot; he revealed.Diolan, for her part, believes she is slowly but surely adjusting to the demands of the college game after a decorated high school career that saw her win Best Setter honors for the Lady Bullpups.&quot;(Sabi ni Coach Roger), hindi daw porke&#x27;t rookie ako, kailangan ko rin mag-astang rookie,&quot; she said. &quot;Kumbaga… kailangan ko rin mag-step up. S&#x27;yempre, &#x27;yun &#x27;yung mino-motivate niya sa akin, na kailangan kong mag-step up kahit rookie pa lang, na kailangan kong maging matured.&quot;Diolan said she has now adjusted to setting for Santiago and even NU captain Myla Pablo. Indeed, she finds it easy to set the ball to Santiago, saying: &quot;Madaling lang po set-an si Ate Jaja, kasi kumbaga, itataas mo lang sa kanya &#x27;yung bola.&quot;Gorayeb, however, is not yet satisfied.&quot;Hindi pa rin ganoon,&quot; he said, when asked if Diolan was the right setter to maximize Santiago. &quot;Makikita mo, ang daming mababa (na set). Pero nagi-improve siya.&quot;Even though Diolan has continued to improve and show her potential, it appears Gorayeb is still not 100% sold on her as NU&#x27;s setter of the future.&quot;Ayoko magsalita… pero one of these days, sosorpresahin ko kayong lahat,&quot; he said. &quot;Isa lang siyang setter. Kailangan ko pa ng isang setter kasi ga-graduate na &#x27;yung dalawa (Soliven and Perez).&quot;<div>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports</a> website.</div>

It is no secret that the setter position has been an especially touchy subject for the National University Lady Bulldogs in recent seasons, with the team's coaches struggling to find a playmaker who can maximize the presence of Jaja Santiago.

Is Rica Diolan the solution to NU's setter problems?

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Is Rica Diolan the solution to NU's setter problems?

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 09, 2016 07:46 AM PHT

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