SPIKERS from the University of the Philippines, the University of the East and the Rizal Technological University bucked the winds as they held off separate foes yesterday at the start of the first leg of the 2009 Petron Ladies? Beach Volleyball Tournament at the sand courts of the University of the East-Caloocan campus.

Leah Acepcion and her UP teammate Rebecca Gail Montero needed some extra effort before turning back the UE pair Jimberly and Maan Soriano right at their foes? own turf, 24-22.

Last year?s first-leg winners Ginaflor Alanguilan and Abigail Escandor showed mastery of the varying wind conditions in posting a 21-14 triumph over UP standouts Pauline Genido and Southlyn Ramos.

RTU?s Marichelle Tagudin and Claire Anne Cagampang displayed a versatile game in routing Technological Institute of the Philippines campaigners Jonalyn Garfin and Ma. Francesca Demerin, 21-11.

Acepcion, who reached the finals of the Battle of Champions last year with a different partner, and Montero, grabbed the early lead of the Group B, while Alanguilan and Escandor share the top spot in the Group A with Cagampang and Tagudin.

?Hindi effective ang mga receives namin dahil nababantayan. Kaya, nag-concentrate na lang kami sa offense. Hayun, pumasok ang service,? said the 5?4? Montero, a tourism student.

Soriano and Dizon looked on their way to scoring an upset after taking a 20-17 in this two-day spikefest sponsored by Petron, Mikasa, Speedo and the UE-Caloocan athletic department as moved ahead of Acepcion and Montero using Dizon?s aggressive attacks at the net.

But the duo from UP stepped up their offensive and forced a 20-all deadlock on Acepcion?s lob to the back, and Montero?s smashes at the frontline.

A long volley by Soriano and Acepcion?s drop shot in the final moments of the game, allowed them post the win after extricating themselves from a 23-all tie. Peter Atencio