Sophomore Alyssa Valdez of Ateneo de Manila University remained as the top candidate for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) plum of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 75 women’s volleyball tournament after the first round of elimination.

Valdez racked up a total score of 154 points including 130 spikes and 17 service aces. She also had seven blocks.

National University’s (NU) Dindin Santiago ranked second with 125 output on 104 spikes, 14 aces and seven blocks while her teammate Myla Pablo and Adamson University’s Ma. Paulina Soriano are sharing the third with identical 114 points.

Also in the running for the coveted MVP award are No. 5 Rosemarie Vargas of Far Eastern University (98), No. 6 Sheila Marie Pineda of Adamson (91), No. 7 Fille Saint Merced Cainglet of Ateneo (88), No. 8 University of Santo Tomas’ (UST) Judy Ann Caballejo (82) and Maika Ortiz (82), and No. 10 Ara Galang of De La Salle University (77).

Leading the race for individual awards are Pablo for Best Spiker with 43.61 accuracy rate, Maricar Nepomuceno of NU for Best Blocker with 0.81 average block per set, Valdez for Best Server with 0.59, Jem Ferrer of Ateneo for Best Setter with 7.34, Agno Christine of FEU for Best Digger with 3.13, and Jen Reyes of NU for Best Receiver with 35.79 efficiency rate.

La Salle and Ateneo are currently in a tie for the top spot with 6-1 followed by NU (3-4), Adamson (3-4), UST (4-3), FEU (3-4), University of the Philippines (1-6) and University of the East (0-7).