Under the new season’s theme “Building Greatness”, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 101 Volleyball officially burst into action at the San Andres Sports Complex on January 23, 2026.
Ten member schools—Arellano University, Benilde Lady Blazers, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Colegio San Juan de Letran, Jose Rizal University, Lyceum University of the Philippines, Mapúa University, San Beda University, San Sebastian College, and University of Perpetual Help—are all geared up to bring another year of fierce volleyball competition in collegiate sports.
High-Stakes Action on Women’s Game
The spotlight turned into the thrilling five-set matchup between the four-time defending champions, Benilde Lady Blazers, and the determined squad, Mapúa Lady Cardinals. Both teams displayed competitive spirit and determination from the start. Lady Blazers started strong on the first set, 25-21, then the Lady Cardinals roared back in the second.
The Lady Blazers claimed the third set, 25-14, but the opposing team staged a comeback in the fourth set, 23-25, that extended the match. After the intense showdown in the decisive final set, the Lady Blazers defeated the Lady Cardinals with scores 17-15, closing out the match 3-2.
Another match on the women’s division was held after the Benilde-Mapua battle, where the Letran Lady Knights faced Arellano Lady Chiefs. Throughout the game, the Lady Knights were declared winners after dominating the three-set match over the Lady Chiefs with scores of 25-10, 25-17, and 25-17.
Recapping the Men’s Volleyball Match
Following the women’s game, attention later shifted to the men’s battle as the Benilde Blazers, Mapua Cardinals, Arellano Chiefs, and the Letran Knights stepped in to deliver more action on the court.
In the first match, the Benilde Blazers and Mapua Cardinals produced a heated five-set competition. Both alternatively traded wins where the Cardinals took the first and third set with 25-20 on both, while the Blazers earned 22-25 on the second and 25-27 on the fourth. The Mapua Cardinals won 15-9 in the decisive fifth set.
For the second match, the Arellano Chiefs commanded the first set, 27-25, but the Letran Knights bounced back in the second set with a tight 26-24. The Chiefs stepped up their aggression in the latter sets, topping them with scores 29-27 in the third and 25-20 in the fourth set. The Arellano Chiefs won the game after outscoring the Knights in three of four sets.
The volleyball action continues to unfold, and the season is expected to grow more intense and unpredictable, with electrifying battles, thrilling rallies, and breakout performances from players across men’s and women’s divisions.