NATIONAL University-Nazareth School and Kings’ Montessori School have advanced to the semifinal round of the 2024 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League after defeating their respective rivals.

Diza Berayo led NUNS with 18 points, including 13 attacks, three blocks, and two aces, in a 25-6, 25-23, 25-17 victory over Far Eastern University-Diliman at the Adamson University Gym on Wednesday.

NUNS, the UAAP Season 86 runner-up, will face the winner of the match between Adamson University and Lyceum of the Philippines University at the Paco Arena on Thursday.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect this 3-0 game. Maybe they didn’t either. We weren’t complete, but we prepared well during training yesterday,” said Lady Bullpups head coach Norman Miguel.

NUNS capitalized on 11 aces and benefitted from FEU-Diliman’s 17 errors to reach the Final Four of the country’s premier grassroots volleyball tournament. “Our game plan starts with the service, and everything else follows. It was effective today,” Miguel added.

Celine Marsh contributed 14 points, including 11 on attacks, while Robielle Silla added 10 points for the Lady Bullpups, who faced a strong challenge in the second set. Lovely Lopez led the Lady Baby Tamaraws with 10 points, as they managed to tie the score at 8-all in the third set before the Lady Bullpups went on a 9-2 run to secure the win.

In another quarterfinal match, Kings’ Montessori School defeated Bethel Academy College, 25-17, 25-23, 25-17. Shahanna Lleses led the Lady Vikings with 18 points, while Shane Reterta contributed 16 points for Bethel Academy.

Kings’ Montessori will face Bacolod Tay Tung, which triumphed over Arellano University, 25-17, 25-21, 25-20, in the other quarterfinal match. Ana Hermosura scored 14 points for the unbeaten Thunderbolts, who finished third in the tournament’s inaugural edition.