For Kassandra ‘Kassy’ Doering, it is all about striving for excellence through every fight.
The UP Women’s Volleyball Team (WVT) extends their losing streak to four as they near the end of the UAAP Season 87 Volleyball Tournament’s first round, yet the team continues to make great strides.
After bowing down to reigning titlists NU Lady Bulldogs, 13-25, 23-25, 22-25, their winless run persists against the blue-and-gold squad which dates back to Season 80.
Though the Fighting Maroons are amid a tough stretch, Doering believes the team remains committed to putting their best effort into every game.
“Just more of telling myself that I have to be at my best. I have to play my best, and that’s something that we as a team and individually try to strive for—just to be at our best,” Doering said in a post-game interview with Tinig ng Plaridel.
The one-and-done player emerged as a key presence in the team’s showdown against NU, tallying an impressive 11 points, built from eight attacks and three blocks.
A former standout at California State University San Marcos, Doering played a pivotal role in rallying State U’s comeback attempts during the second and third salvos.
Aside from the efforts of the 6-foot-tall middle blocker, the Maroon squad also banked on their floor defense, registering 29 excellent digs and 21 excellent receptions.
Though they were facing the top-seeded team in the competition, Doering emphasized that their approach remained the same—treating every opponent with equal respect.
“We tried to put [NU’s] title aside because any team, they’re all the same. They’re all there to compete and play their best. So for us, it was the usual scouting, the usual game plan in terms of defense and offense,” she explained.
Recognizing that every aspect of the game is crucial, Doering emphasizes that State U must sharpen and polish the smaller details to improve their performance.
“The little things really add up and if we can take care of those things, the results would be different,” she said.
The Fighting Maroons will hope to snap out of their losing spell as they face the Adamson Lady Falcons for their final match of the round on March 16, 1 p.m., at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
