Super rookie Shaina Nitura out of words after stellar performance in Season 87

MANILA, Philippines — Adamson University's main gunner Shaina Nitura made a much introduction in her first year in the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball after shattering records.

The Lady Falcons' super rookie flaunted her offensive prowess in the collegiate stage after scoring 30-plus points in six out of 14 games.

With Nitura's leadership, Adamson finished fifth in the standings with a 6-8 win-loss card, a huge improvement from its seventh finish in the 86th season, where they only had three wins.

The 20-year-old spiker capped the season with a game-high of 22 points to exact revenge over the University of the Philippines, 25-13, 25-21, 25-18, on Sunday, April 27.

This made her the UAAP player who scored the most points in both men's and women's divisions after she tallied 371 points, surpassing Alyssa Valdez's 312-point mark and Mark Alfafara's long-standing record of 344 points.

"I have no words to describe things. Maybe it will take days, months, and weeks before I soak it all in," she said humbly.

"I just really don't know how to describe it. I am just playing, and I just train. So thank you, Lord," she added.

For Nitura, being called a super rookie has its perks, but she chooses to focus on what matters to her heart.

"Being called as a super rookie, of course, there's weight on my shoulders since there are expectations. But, again, I am not pleasing anyone. I am playing for my team, myself, and my family in every game I play," she added.

Nitura made a career-high performance of 38 points in a loss against UP in the first round, shattering the 35-point career-high performances of Sisi Rondina and Valdez.

"I just don't know how to describe [this season]. It's all God's will. I just surrendered everything. Everything that happened is his will, and I will keep continuing to trust in the next seasons that we will face."

Falling short of making it to the Final Four, Nitura shared that she's happy that her squad put up a fight.

"If we can't make it to the Final Four, at least fifth. Grateful, since we achieved that. That's the least of our achievement; if we can't make it to the Final Four, then at least place fifth. So thank you, Lord, and we also had no injuries this season," she said.

Nitura scored 30 points or more in 14 games this season, including high-scoring outings against the University of the Philippines (38 points), Ateneo de Manila University (33 points), University of Santo Tomas (36 points), Far Eastern University (30 points), National University (32 points), and De La Salle University (35 points).