3,213 days.
That is how long since the University of the Philippines Women’s Volleyball Team (UP WVT) last set foot on the UAAP Final Four stage.
After the squad’s fourth-place finish in Season 78, where they suffered a tough loss against the Alyssa Valdez-led Ateneo Lady Eagles, the Fighting Maroons are gearing up for a trip back to the same destination anew.
With a coaching shake-up putting veteran tactician Benson Bocboc at the reins of the rebuilding squad, backed-up with the commitment of seven standouts who are eager to prove their worth this Season 87, UP is poised to finish strong.
Jaz Manguilimotan
Awarded as Best Setter in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. in 2023, 19-year-old Jaz Manguilimotan continues to make a name for herself as one of the promising young setters in high school volleyball.
Hailing all the way from Aloguinsan, Cebu, Manguilimotan first honed her skills at Aloguinsan National High School. She moved to the University of San Jose Recoletos where she was scouted in 11th grade—an opportunity that led her to join UP.
Manguilimotan made a strong impression during her first appearance for the Fighting Maroons in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League (SSL), placing second for the team’s top servers with four aces under her belt during the elimination phase.
NUNS trio: Kianne Olango, Bienne Bansil and Yesha Noceja
Three of National University Nazareth School’s (NUNS) key players from their Season 85 and 86 title runs will be bringing their championed lineages to Diliman.
UAAP Season 85 Girls’ Volleyball MVP and Season 86 Best Opposite Spiker Kianne Olango, along with Season 86 Best Middle Blocker Bienne Bansil and outside hitter Yesha Noceja are set to reinforce UP’s frontline this season.
Tallying a total of 62 points, Olango emerged as one of the team’s top scorers during the SSL—only a point behind her senior and two-time UAAP Second Best Middle Blocker Niña Ytang.
Bansil has also proven her net dominance in the same league, ranking 27th in the standings for best blocks and earning 15 points across eight matches, providing ample support amidst heavy hitters Ytang and one-and-done Kassy Doering.
All the way from Lubao, Pampanga, the young rookie was instrumental in securing NUNS’ championship title at the 2022 Rebisco Volleyball League National Finals, where she earned the First Best Middle Blocker award.
Rounding out the trio is Lagunense outside hitter Yesha Noceja who represented the National Capital Region in the Palarong Pambansa—dominating the wing and claiming the Best Outside Hitter award before becoming a key player in NUNS’ offensive arsenal.
Aside from racking up 27 points in the SSL, Noceja proves to be a versatile weapon on the defensive side on the court, posting a solid 63% reception positivity rate with 55 perfect passes on 88 attempts throughout their tournament run.
Alijah Ysulan
The Fighting Maroons have also locked in the commitment of Bacolod Tay Tung High School standout Alijah Ysulan who will backstop UP’s floor defense this season.
The promising rookie from Talisay City, Negros Occidental had an impressive run during the SSL, tallying 109 perfect receptions out of 154 attempts.
This isn’t a new feat for the rising libero as she earned the Best Libero honors during the 2023 Rebisco 18U Volleyball League Western Visayas Qualifiers during Bacolod Tay Tung’s championship run.
Ysulan also played a key role in Western Visayas’ championship in the 2023 Palarong Pambansa, anchoring the floor defense to earn Best Libero honors. She shared the spotlight with now-teammates Olango and Bansil, who won Best Server and Best Middle Blocker, respectively.
Kassandra ‘Kassy’ Doering
Program Director Oliver Almadro guaranteed that WVT would not fall short in defense as he secured the services of San Francisco-born middle blocker Kassy Doering from California State University San Marcos.
The one-and-done Texas native delivered 10 points built from four attacks, four blocks, and two aces during a straight set victory against Jose Rizal University to advance in the second round of the SSL.
Standing at six-foot tall, Doering also led the pre-season tournament with 26 kill blocks to her name.
Alongside blocking, Doering’s forte extends to scoring, as she ranked as the league’s 11th Best Scorer, averaging 3.38 points per set with a total of 88 points in 26 sets. She achieved an attack efficiency of 41%, successfully converting 56 out of 138 spike attempts.
Denise Lauchengco
State U is making bold moves to revamp its volleyball program, securing the commitment of University of Perpetual Help Laguna standout Denise Lauchengco.
The 20-year-old outside hitter from Laguna was among the young guns who represented UP during the SSL where she contributed 5 points to solidify their straight-set win against Jose Rizal University during round one of the eliminations.
The UP WVT is set to bring a new light in Diliman as they kick started their UAAP Season 87 renaissance against the University of the East last Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
