Alyssa Solomon has an added challenge to herself amid the NU Lady Bulldogs’ attempt to secure back-to-back UAAP Women’s Volleyball championships.
After representing the Blue and Gold for nearly a decade, Alyssa Solomon’s time with National University will come to a close at the end of the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
One of the most accomplished opposite hitters in the UAAP, Solomon is expected to leave the Bulldogs’ den along with co-star Bella Belen, middle blocker Sheena Toring, and former captain Erin Pangilinan at the conclusion of the ongoing UAAP season.
Much like Belen, the chance to win back-to-back titles is something that Solomon hopes to achieve in her collegiate swan song with her batchmates.
“Oo naman, parang gusto namin umalis ng champion,” she told The GAME after NU’s opening weekend sweep over the DLSU Lady Spikers. “Talagang hugot namin na magkakasama [mag-champion] para pare-parehas kami ng mindset.”
But more than scoring the elusive title repeat, the pride of Sta. Rosa, Laguna has an added challenge for her game this season. To be exact, she’s determined to establish a sense of consistency in terms of being assertive in each contest.
The 23-year-old is already a two-time Best Opposite Spiker in the collegiate ranks and was the Finals Most Valuable Player in their Season 86 title run. However, she was the first to admit her tendency to be passive as a spiker.
“Like kanina [against DLSU], marami pa rin ako gustong improve lalo ‘yung sa attack ko kasi parang…’di masyadong lumalabas ‘yung killer instinct, ‘yun ‘yung nawala and parang ‘yun ‘yung gusto ko ibalik agad,” explained Solomon, who bucked a slow start to finish with 13 points built on a team-high 12 kills on Sunday.
Fortunately, the six-foot-two spiker is doing her part to resolve this particular kink, whether it’s in changing her mindset, or even switching up her pre-game rituals as needed.
“Nasa mindset talaga ‘yan, like paano mo sisimulan ‘yung day mo, gameday mo. Yung routine mo, pag may laro ka, ‘yung mga susuotin mo, importante ‘yun!” she said.
There’s also the wealth of offseason experiences she’s accumulated, such as her Alas Pilipinas stint in the SEA V.League, NU’s Asian Women’s Club Championship run, and Shakey’s Super League Preseason title romp.
Last but not least is the arrival of Sherwin Meneses in NU, who seeks to complement the team’s natural talent with his Grand Slam-winning philosophy.
“May mga common sense talaga na iniinstil si Coach She na ‘Ay oo nga!’ Bat ‘di namin naisip na dati pa ‘yun pwede palang gawin na para mapadali ‘yung volleyball,” said Solomon, who again shared similar thoughts with Belen.
Solomon finds herself tackling more complex offensive schemes under Meneses, which helps with her desire to have a more consistent killer instinct.
“Siguro parang last season more on dun lang ako sa side ko [ng court], pero ngayon may mga ‘play play’ na ako so ayun, ‘yun ‘yung napabago sakin ni [Coach She] and lalo sa defense po,” the six-foot-two hitter said.
And with her UAAP career slowly coming to a close, Solomon couldn’t help but reflect on how her collegiate stint has gone full circle. She was once guided by veterans such as Jen Nierva, Joyme Cagande, Cess Robles, and even Ivy Lacsina in Jhocson, which is a role she’s now taking on herself.
“Nung Season 84 hanggang ngayon, syempre maraming nawala, but then kami na ‘yung seniors ngayon and naga–guide…Pero nung 84 kami ‘yung gina-guide and kami ‘yung binibigyan ng mga pag-correct sa galaw,” she reflected.
The Belen and Solomon-led NU core is flanked by a solid youth brigade that includes Alas Pilipinas teammate Arah Panique, sophomore middle blocker Alexa Mata, and homegrown standouts Celine Marsh and Ic Cepada.
“As a senior, natutuwa ako sa mga rookies and lower batch namin na nagi-improve pa rin everyday and hindi sila nagsasawa mag-training,” said the 23-year-old.
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.