THE UST Golden Tigresses notched their third straight victory in the 2026 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate National Invitationals after sweeping the NCAA Season 101 champion Colegio de San Juan de Letran Lady Knights, 25-22, 25-17, 25-13, on Tuesday, July 21, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
UST dominated the match statistically on both ends, leading in attacks, 36-22, and in blocks, 13-1.
Rookie Erica Gutierrez was named MVP of the Match after tallying eight points on six attacks and two blocks.
The Golden Tigresses raced to a 12-6 advantage in the opening set before the Lady Knights answered with a six-point run to erase the deficit and eventually knot the score at 19-all.
Despite Letran’s late rally, UST regained its footing in the closing stretch as Julia Balingit delivered the set-winning attack to seal a 25-22 opener.
UST never relinquished control in the second set, using an early 7-2 cushion before Kim Rubin’s back-to-back service aces widened the gap and paved the way for a 25-17 win.
The España-based squad carried its momentum into the third set, racing to a 14-8 advantage before Gutierrez stretched the lead to 21-11 with consecutive attacks.
Bianca Plaza then punctuated the victory with a running attack, sealing UST’s straight-set triumph, 25-13.
“Super happy po and proud of me and my team because we applied what we have trained po for these past few days,” Gutierrez said in a post-match interview.
The Golden Tigresses will face international squad the Southern Storm Melbourne on Wednesday, July 22, at the same venue. F
