MANILA, Philippines – The UP Fighting Maroons’ bid to make the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball Final Four spot just got a lot tougher with the loss of one of its big stars.

Casiey Dongallo, who was just getting her feet wet with her new team, will miss the rest of the tournament with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus tears on her left knee, the team announced on Saturday, March 14.

Dongallo is expected to miss 10 to 12 months and will have one year of eligibility left when she returns in Season 89.

“She’s in a great mood. I’m surprised she never felt the desperation. She came to the (next) game, she comes to our training, still smiling,” said head coach Fabio Menta on Dongallo’s state of mind.

“Now, we want to be optimistic. By late December or January next year, she’ll be training again. Hopefully.”

Dongallo sustained the injury in the first set of UP’s 25-13, 25-21, 25-16 loss to the FEU Lady Tamaraws last March 8, following a bad fall, and needed help on the way to the dugout.

The open hitter has been using an immobilizer and crutches since, even when she watched the Maroons’ 16-25, 25-13, 25-19, 25-20 defeat to the UST Golden Tigresses on Wednesday, March 11.

Dongallo was just coming off her breakout performance for UP, delivering 20 points in a five-set upset of two-time defending champion NU Lady Bulldogs last February 28.

Longtime Donggalo teammate Jelai Gajero is expected to complement graduating Joan Monares and Irah Jaboneta on the wings.

“Casiey’s a big loss, but the girls understand they need to do more now to compensate,” Menta said.

“The girls are okay. They’re working, and hopefully, we find the right adjustments. We are preparing hard to do our best.”

Toting a 3-3 record, UP seeks to arrest its two-game skid as it plays the Adamson Lady Falcons on Sunday, March 15. – Rappler.com

UP’s Casiey Dongallo out for rest of UAAP Season 88