Camille Naredo

Southern Storm Melbourne celebrates a point against Letran in the 2026 Shakey's Collegiate National Invitationals, July 19, 2026 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Handout/Shakey's

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2026 Shakey's Collegiate National Invitationals

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784459655275SSM-3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Southern Storm Melbourne celebrates a point against Letran in the 2026 Shakey&#x27;s Collegiate National Invitationals, July 19, 2026 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Handout/Shakey&#x27;s"/>Southern Storm Melbourne celebrates a point against Letran in the 2026 Shakey&#x27;s Collegiate National Invitationals, July 19, 2026 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Handout/Shakey&#x27;s</div>MANILA -- Southern Storm Melbourne overturned deficits in each set en route to a 26-24, 25-21, 25-19 sweep of Letran in its first game in the 2026 Shakey&#x27;s Collegiate National Invitationals on Sunday.The guest team from Australia showed its resilience at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, frustrating the Lady Knights in the one-hour, 35-minute encounter.Down by six early in the third set, the Australians pushed back with a blistering 19-7 rally to complete the sweep. Sammy Pila led the way with 12 points on 10 kills, one block, and an ace.&quot;I&#x27;m really proud of how the team continued to play our game. This is a different style of volleyball than what we&#x27;re used to. But we stuck together,&quot; the 5-foot-9 Pila said.&quot;We had a rough warm-up, but we stuck together, played our game, and were super supportive. I&#x27;m happy for everything,&quot; added Pila, who also tallied five excellent receptions and four digs.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2026/7/18/vietnam-australian-clubs-join-shakey-s-collegiate-tourney-0018">READ: Vietnam, Australian clubs join Shakey’s collegiate tourney</a></div>Middle blocker Steph Baker added nine points anchored on five attacks, three kill blocks and an ace while Hilary Hannagan and Rebekah Pocock added six markers each for the Australians, who took advantage of the Lady Knights&#x27; atrocious 29 errors.Letran threatened to extend the match after squandering leads in the first two sets when it opened a 12-6 advantage in the third frame.But the unfazed Southern Storm Melbourne countered with a pivotal rally and took the lead, 18-17, after a miscue by the Lady Knights.Letran tied it at 18 before the trio of Pila, Hannagan and Mayra Pacioni connived in a 6-0 blast to reach match point. Reeza Abayon saved a point for Letran, only for the Lady Knights to surrender the match with a net touch infraction.It was a frustrating outing for the Lady Knights after seeing the separations they built early in all three sets erased by the persistent Aussies.Letran was ahead 16-11 in the opening frame, only for Southern Storm Melbourne to counter with a 13-5 run for a setpoint advantage, 24-21.The Lady Knights saved three set points but Kaizah Yuno killed their momentum with a service error before Pila hammered down the set-winning spike.Letran also wasted a four-point advantage midway into the second frame.Judiel Nitura paced the Lady Knights with 12 points, all coming off attacks, while Joralyn Panangin and Carlyn Tizon chipped in seven markers each.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17844596736152O0A8302.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Action between UST and Enderun Colleges in the 2026 Shakey&#x27;s Collegiate National Invitationals, July 19, 2026 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Handout/Shakey&#x27;s"/>Action between UST and Enderun Colleges in the 2026 Shakey&#x27;s Collegiate National Invitationals, July 19, 2026 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Handout/Shakey&#x27;s</div>In the second game, University of Santo Tomas cruised past Enderun Colleges, 25-18, 25-17, 25-13, to set its title bid in motion.Veteran Angge Poyos and Ashlee Knop led the Golden Tigresses&#x27; balanced scoring with eight points each to bring down the Lady Titans in just 85 minutes.Poyos and Knop combined for 14 of UST&#x27;s 37 attack points while Marga Altea and Julia Balingit added five markers each.The Tigresses also exploited Enderun&#x27;s 27 errors to essay an easy victory heading into their clash against College of Saint Benilde on Monday.Althea Botor and Jasmine Salvani posted seven points each to lead the Lady Titans.

Southern Storm Melbourne overturned deficits in each set en route to a 26-24, 25-21, 25-19 sweep of Letran in its first game in the 2026 Shakey's Collegiate National Invitationals on Sunday.

Southern Storm Melbourne overturned deficits in each set en route to a 26-24, 25-21, 25-19 sweep of Letran in its first game in the 2026 Shakey's Collegiate National Invitationals on Sunday.

Volleyball: Aussies sweep Letran to open Shakey's campaign

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Volleyball: Aussies sweep Letran to open Shakey's campaign

ABS-CBN News

Published July 19, 2026 07:19 PM PHT

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Shakey's Collegiate National Invitationals

Southern Storm Melbourne

Letran Lady Knights

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