After a slow start in the first frame, the Fighting Maroons stayed with NU in the second, down by just three late in the game, 20-23, after a 5-1 UP rally.

But UP’s effort poured down the drain as Cess Robles and Erin Pangilinan closed the door with back-to-back smashes to keep the sweep alive.

UP jumped off to a 6-1 lead in the third set, but NU replied with a 20-5 counter-blitz to take an unassailable 21-11 advantage on the way to the victory.

Bella Belen scored 13 points on attacks, and Cess Robles contributed 12 points on 11 kills and a block in the Lady Bulldogs’ finest season since going 6-1 in the first round of UAAP Season 80 in 2018.

Ivy Lacsina had 11 points, Alyssa Solomon chipped in nine, and Lams Lamina guided the team with 22 excellent sets.

Following a three-game winning streak to begin the tournament, the Fighting Maroons dropped their next four games to fall to 3-4 and sixth place while no players scored in double figures, with Nia Ytang and Jewel Encarnacion only scoring seven points each.