No more sleepless nights for Mayeth Carolino as Letran lifts first NCAA women’s volleyball title in nearly 30 years

Colegio de San Juan de Letran head coach Mayeth Carolino was part of the last Lady Knights' squad that brought the NCAA women's volleyball title to Intramuros in 1998. (Photo: Angela Davocol/NCAA Philippines)

Mayeth Carolino can finally get a good night’s sleep after guiding Colegio de San Juan de Letran to its first women’s volleyball title in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) since 1998.

The player-turned-head coach directed the Lady Knights from the sidelines as they dethroned four-time defending champion De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde in a five-set thriller, 15-25, 25-17, 26-24, 17-25, 15-12, in Game 3 of their NCAA Season 101 finals on Friday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.

‎Carolino admitted accepting the job wasn't easy, yet she got the much-needed support to help Letran bury the ghost of its past shortcomings, including consecutive finals losses to Benilde in Seasons 99 and 100.

“Hindi ako nakakatulog lalo na ’pag talo kami. Talagang ang hirap pero nandoon ’yung coaching staff ko at saka ’yung mga players, inaalalayan nila ako so hindi ako nag-iisa rito,” she said, as reported by GMA Sports.

“Talo man o panalo kami, laging nandoon sila sa tabi ko,” she added.

Among those who helped steady the program is Finnish assistant coach Aleksi Lähteenmäki, who previously worked with Oriveden Ponnistus, a professional club in Finland, before joining Letran.

Bringing the title back to Intramuros was also a full-circle moment for Carolino.

She was part of Letran’s last championship team, helping the Lady Knights win back-to-back titles in 1997 and 1998 as a player.

Since then, the closest the program had come was a series of runner-up finishes, making this season’s breakthrough especially meaningful for Carolino.

“Sobrang saya. Hindi ko ma-explain ’yung saya ko na natupad ’yung goal namin na makuha ’yung championship,” she said.

The sister of former national team member Michelle Carolino, meanwhile, expressed confidence that the Lady Knights can sustain their success despite the departure of key players, including libero Lara Mae Silva and setter Nat Estrellar. Finals Most Valuable Player Judiel Nitura is also reportedly considering a move to the professional ranks.

“Syempre gusto naming ituloy-tuloy ito. Sana start pa lang ’to,” she said. “Hindi kami puwedeng mag-relax. So tuloy-tuloy lang kami, at kung kailangan pa naming magdagdag ng tao, gagawin din namin ’yun.”