The University of St. La Salle holds the distinction of having the longest reign in Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports Cultural and Educational Association women's volleyball with a total of 22 titles tucked under its belt.

This year's the school hopes to continue the winning streak as the NOPSSCEA competition starts next month, USLS Varsity Sports Office director Malot Lozada said.

But the defending champion tag does not count when the competition starts as all teams are determined to win, she added.

“We always tell our players that you are only as good as your last win. You have to win all your games with the title at the end of the tournament as the goal,” Lozada, who also coaches the six-time champion USLS-IS high school girls' volleyball team said.

The USLS Lady Stingers, mentored by multi-titled coach Roger Banzuela, will be aiming for their 23 rd straight title with the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos Lady Rams as the perennial rival for the crown.

Completing the trio of teams vying for the title this year is the Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod spikers, who will always remain as a threat to the Stingers and Rams.

Lozada said the women's team remains intact and will be defending their title in the national University Games next month right at their turf in USLS. The Stingers bagged the gold against Adamson University in Roxas City last year.

The men's squad, on the other hand, will have to overcome the challenge from UNO-R, CSA-B, Visayan Maritme Academy , and John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation-Bacolod in the NOPSSCEA this year.

In high school volleyball, Lozada said the USLS-IS girls' team is rookie-laden this year as most members of the 2011-2012 squad have graduated.

Still, they hope to claim their seventh straight title against 16 other teams in NOPSSCEA for the chance to compete in the provincial and regional meets.

Vying for the title in high school boys' volleyball are 17 teams, while 15 schools will be fielding their entry in elementary boys and six in elementary girls' division.

Aside from men and women's volleyball, the Stingers will also be defending their NOPSSCEA title in men's football, men and women's karatedo, men and women's lawn tennis, men and women's athletics, men and women's swimming, men and women's badminton and sepak takraw.*NAB

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