Daquis, a game changer for Foxies

VETERAN Rachel Daquis is having fun again as she approaches every game with Farm Fresh like an Eraserheads song — "With a Smile."

After a year away from the world of volleyball, the 37-year-old spiker is back in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).

Playing for a team that struggles to keep its head above water, Daquis recorded her best performance this season with 19 points on 17 attacks and two blocks to lift Farm Fresh to a 18-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-19, 15-12 victory over Galeries last Tuesday in the PVL 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference.

After the grueling five-set match, Farm Fresh head tactician Bocboc Benson praised the leadership of Daquis and said that her captivating smile "served as the game changer for the young squad."

"She's always doing that (smiling). That's why she carries the team since she's always positive," Benson said.

"Others are usually very quiet and she carries her energy along with a team. Her energy is really different. When Daquis arrived here the energy of Farm Fresh changed."

Farm Fresh capped the preliminary round of the PVL All-Filipino Conference with a 5-6 win-loss card.

However, the former Far Eastern University stalwart said there is still a lot of room for improvement for her and her team.

"As I said earlier, I am still struggling. I am still at the lab, and I am still working on my ball control. But the team did not give up on me. This is my best game, but we need to work more. We should not stop working, and adjusting," she said.

Daquis complained of muscle cramps in the middle of the fifth frame but showed grit and courage to return to the court and slam the game-winning kill of the match.

It was a huge win for the Foxies who missed go-to hitter Trisha Tubu to injuries.

Caitlin Viray and Rizza Cruz scored 14 and 13 points, respectively, for Farm Fresh in that game.