NU’s Alyssa Solomon during a game against FEU in the Shakey’s Super League.–AUGUST DELA CRUZ/INQUIRER

Being a target of the field isn’t new to Sherwin Meneses.

He’s had to fend off several challenges to the throne as coach of the dynastic Creamline squad in the Premier Volleyball League.

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So he understands the pressures of being National University (NU) in the women’s volleyball scene.

“They are the defending champions of the UAAP and every other team wants to face them and beat them,” Meneses said late Friday evening after steering NU to a 25-16, 25-12, 27-25 triumph over La Salle in Game 1 of the best-of-three title series for the 2024 Shakey’s Super League crown at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

“So there’s still a lot of improvement we can being to the UAAP,” he added. “Improvement is what I always stress to them. A team doesn’t stop improving after winning a championship.”

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That is why winning Game 1 of the Super League doesn’t mean they have figured out La Salle already.

And Bella Belen agrees.

“I’m very excited about what we can still show on Sunday and I think we can even surpass our performance [in Game 1] because this team has high capabilities,” Belen, who finished with 10 points, said.