Cebuana Phenom Casiey Dongallo Leads UP to Historic Reverse-Sweep Over Unbeaten NU in UAAP Volleyball
Cebuana volleyball sensation Casiey Dongallo delivered a stellar performance, leading the University of the Philippines to an incredible reverse-sweep victory against the previously unbeaten National University in the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
In a historic UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball match on February 22, 2025, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons pulled off an incredible reverse sweep against the previously unbeaten National University Lady Bulldogs, winning 3-2 (22-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-23, 15-12). This victory marked UP's first-ever five-set comeback win over NU in program history and snapped NU's 14-match winning streak dating back to Season 86. The win improved UP's record to 4-3 while NU dropped to 6-1 in the standings.
Cebuana phenom Casiey Dongallo, the 19-year-old outside hitter nicknamed 'CDO,' delivered a career-high 35 points on 29 attacks, 4 blocks, and 2 aces to earn Player of the Game honors. Dongallo's clutch performance propelled UP from a 0-2 deficit, with her game-sealing kill in the final set igniting the Maroons' bench and fans. After the match, she credited her faith and teammates, stating: 'Glory to God... We fought until the end.'
The match began with NU dominating the first two sets, led by Alyssa Solomon's 23 points and Sheena Ronquillo's 16 points. However, UP staged a remarkable turnaround in Set 3, rallying behind Dongallo's 12 points to win 25-22. Set 4 saw UP edge NU 25-23 after a crucial 10-2 run, with Dongallo's ace proving pivotal. In the decisive fifth set, UP surged to a 10-5 lead and held off NU's late push to secure the 15-12 victory.
This was UP's first reverse sweep in UAAP women's volleyball history according to official records and their biggest comeback against a top seed. UP coach Santiago Sta. Maria called the victory 'a testament to resilience,' while NU coach Norman Miguel lamented his team's 38 unforced errors. The win significantly boosted UP's Final Four hopes in a season that had been dominated by early favorites like Ateneo and UST.
The historic upset created significant buzz on social media, with #Dongallo35 and #UPReverseSweep trending as fans hailed Dongallo as 'UAAP's next superstar.' The victory reshaped the Season 87 standings, proving that underdogs like UP, led by Dongallo's exceptional firepower, could challenge the elite teams in the tournament.
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