Defending champion La Salle trounced Adamson, 25-15, 25-17, 25-20, to gain the solo lead in the 72nd UAAP women’s volleyball tournament Sunday at The Arena in San Juan.

Jacqueline Alarca made 10 points while Stephanie Mercado, Abigail Marano and Joanne Siy added eight points, apiece, as the Lady Archers extended their winning run to three.

They needed just 61 minutes to dispatch the Lady Falcons. Jill Gustillo and Angela Benting had10 points each tom pace Adamson, which slipped to 2-1.

Earlier, rookie Maruja Banaticla tallied 15 points as University of Santo Tomas pulled off a 25-18, 29-27, 25-21 win over Far Eastern University.

Aiza Maizo and Maika Ortiz backstopped Banaticla’s effort with nine points each with Rhea Dimaculangan and Angeli Tabaquero chipping in eight apiece. — Jonas Terrado