THE UST Golden Tigresses notched their first victory in the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Pre-Season Unity Cup after dispatching the gritty CSJL Lady Knights in four sets, 25-16, 22-25, 25-23, 25-17, on Sunday, Sept. 28, at the Playtime FilOil Centre in San Juan.
The UAAP bronze medalists wasted no time asserting control, racing to a nine-point cushion off a Cassie Carballo block on Gia Maquilang, 15-6.
Left opposite hitter Julia Balingit fired a smash to widen the gap, 19-11, before outside spiker Xyza Gula’s combination play sealed the opener, 25-16.
The Lady Knights regrouped in the second frame with Verenicce Olendra firing back-to-back kills from the right pin to level the match, 25-22.
The Golden Tigresses regained their rhythm in the third, surging ahead 11-6 off Gula’s denial of Judiel Nitura.
The Lady Knights, however, mounted a resurgence with a 17-10 run to seize the lead in crunch time, punctuated by an off-the-block strike from Nitura, 23-21.
The Golden Tigresses responded with a 4-0 run capped by a Letran miscommunication error to snatch the set, 25-23.
In the final frame, Balingit sparked UST’s charge with a kill off the blockers’ hands, 11-8.
Letran managed to tie the game at 15-all through Maquilang, but UST closed the game with authority, unleashing a 10-2 barrage capped by Gula’s match-clinching strike, 25-17.
Middle blocker Margaret Altea led the Tigresses with 12 points built on six attacks, four blocks, and two aces.
The Golden Tigresses will seek back-to-back wins when they face the Mapua Lady Cardinals on Sunday, Oct. 5, at Rizal Memorial Coliseum. F
