The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) formally started its 88th season for collegiate volleyball at the Mall of Asia Arena last February 14, 2026, commencing another year of fierce rivalries and championship aspirations among competing universities.
On the opening day, both men’s and women’s volleyball teams from four member schools—University of the Philippines (UP), University of the East (UE), Far Eastern University (FEU), and De La Salle University (DLSU)—faced off on the court to kick off the competition.
The Intense Match in the Men’s Division
The newly launched volleyball season saw the first clash between the UP Maroons and the UE Warriors.
The UP Maroons were in complete command, 25-23, on the first set. UE Warriors later showed grit and bounced back on the set with 23-25. Both teams traded wins in the middle of the match, with UP taking the third set and UE taking the fourth. After an electrifying final showdown on the fifth set, the UP Maroons secured the 15-11 win over the UE Warriors.
After the UP-UE battle, the FEU Tamaraws and DLSU Green Spikers were next in line to compete on the court. FEU Tamaraws asserted dominance throughout the game and beat the DLSU Green Spikers in three straight sets with scores 25-19, 25-22, and 25-19.
Volleyball Action Heats Up in the Women’s Game
The women’s volleyball teams from UP and UE faced off, with both teams trading strong serves and powerful spikes on the first day of the season.
UP Lady Maroons made a strong statement on the first two sets, 25-12 and 25-9. As the Lady Maroons were just one win away, the UE Lady Warriors staged a comeback in the third set after outlasting UP in 21-25. UP Lady Maroons then showed competitive grit in a tense fourth set, clinching the 25-19 victory.
The spotlight then turned to the upcoming encounter between the FEU Lady Tamaraws and DLSU Lady Spikers. Both sides delivered back-and-forth action until the DLSU Lady Spikers swept the Lady Tamaraws in three consecutive sets.
The opening matches in the men’s and women’s divisions set the tone for the UAAP Season 88. The blend of new energetic faces and established players on every volleyball team is expected to deliver high-stakes action on the court, featuring intense rallies and standout performances from the players.