AFTER DROPPING their first two games, the UST Golden Tigresses clawed past the Ateneo Blue Eagles in straight sets, 26-24, 25-18, 25-21, for their first victory of the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Open spiker Angge Poyos powered the España volleybelles with 21 points built on 19 attacks, one block and a service ace.
The Tigresses made the most out of Ateneo’s early errors in the opening set, as crosscourt kills from Poyos and lefty hitter Reg Jurado propelled them to a 16-11 start.
Attacks from Ysa Nisperos eventually put the Eagles back in the fight, forcing a 24-all deadlock to extend the set.
A crosscourt kill from Xyza Gula, followed by Ateneo’s seventh error, secured the first set for the Tigresses, 26-24.
The Katipunan-squad quickly retaliated in the second salvo, as kills from Dona de Leon and Ana Hermosura punctuated a 7-1 Ateneo start.
The Tigresses later countered with an 18-7 blitz, ending the set with back-to-back kills from Poyos and Gula to place Ateneo at the brink, 25-18.
After falling to a three-point deficit to start the third set, momentum quickly struck back to the España-squad, as kills from Poyos and Marga Altea capped off a 5-0 run for UST, 13-8.
Despite late surges from De Leon and Zel Tsunashima, a service error from Ateneo sealed the Tigresses’ first win in three games.
Adding to the tally for UST was Jurado, who had 11 attacks, a block and 12 digs.
De Leon paced the Blue Eagles with seven kills and two blocks, while Hermosura added eight markers.
The Tigresses will look to sustain their momentum when they face the UE Lady Red Warriors on Saturday, Feb. 28 at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. F
