Jaila Adrao of National University Nazareth School tries to score against Tonirose Moneda of King’s Montessori School in the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) Rising Stars Cup Division 1 at the La Salle Green Hills Gym on Monday (April 20, 2026). The Lady Bullpups won, 25-16, 25-14. (SGVIL photo)
Defending champion National University-Nazareth School wasted no time reasserting its dominance, dismantling King’s Montessori School, 25-16, 25-14, to launch its title-retention bid in the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League Rising Stars Cup Division 1 on Monday at the La Salle Green Hills Gym.
It was a statement win delivered with authority—and speed. The Lady Bullpups needed just 46 minutes to wrap up the match, showcasing a level of cohesion and firepower that immediately sets the tone for the rest of the field.
Leading the charge was Alas Pilipinas Girls standout Xyz Rayco, who turned the service line into a weapon. She tallied 10 points built on six aces and four attacks, repeatedly breaking King’s Montessori’s rhythm and anchoring NU’s commanding performance.
Support came from all angles, with Jaila Adrao contributing nine points, while Jhaynna Bulandres and Raine Alonzo added eight and seven markers, respectively. The Lady Bullpups’ balanced scoring and relentless pressure proved too much for their opponents to handle.
Kriska Gendap paced King’s Montessori with six points, while Sharina Lleses chipped in five, but the squad struggled to keep pace with NU’s intensity from start to finish.
Elsewhere in Division 1, the University of Santo Tomas pulled off a hard-earned win over De La Salle-Zobel, 24-26, 25-20, 15-9, in Pool D. Nicole Pelaez led the Junior Tigresses with 10 points, backed by Ryzel Laag and Eliz Mechavez with eight apiece. La Salle-Zobel leaned on Jeleanne Laborte’s 10 points, with Alyanna Valdez and Kylie Celada adding eight each in the losing effort.
Immaculada Conception College also emerged victorious in Pool B, edging Canossa Academy, 25-12, 26-24, while St. John’s Institute secured a straight-sets win over De La Salle-Lipa, 26-24, 25-13, in Pool C.
In Division 2, reigning champion Domuschola International School delivered one of the day’s most lopsided results, overwhelming The Beacon Academy, 25-8, 25-8. San Beda University followed with a composed 25-23, 25-19 triumph over MGC-New Life Christian Academy in Pool E.
UST-B swept La Salle Green Hills, 25-23, 25-13, while Poveda asserted its strength against last year’s runner-up Everest International School, 25-21, 25-16, in Pool F.
Pool G saw Assumption Antipolo defeat Pace Academy, 25-18, 25-15, and NU-Nazareth School B cruise past CCF-The Life Academy, 25-7, 25-9. In Pool H, De La Salle Zobel-B topped St. Paul College-Pasig, 25-16, 25-19, while University of Batangas outclassed Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, 25-12, 25-19.
With opening-day performances setting the early hierarchy, NU-Nazareth School has made one thing clear: the road to the title still runs through them.