THE UST Golden Tigresses closed out the first round of the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament strong after clawing the FEU Lady Tamaraws, 25-17, 25-18, 25-20, on Saturday, March 14, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
After winning two games in a row, UST improved to a 4-3 record and joined FEU in a shared third spot.
Angge Poyos steered the Tigresses to victory once again, dropping 16 points built on 15 attacks and a block. Reg Jurado added 10 attacks, while rookie middle blocker Avril Bron contributed four aces, three attacks and three blocks.
“Every game’s a must-win. Every team’s already scouted entering the second round. So we have to look at what our team can do better,” UST assistant coach Yani Fernandez said postgame.
“We know our standing, and we know that we have to crawl to get to the Final Four. It’s still early, but that’s one of our goals,” team captain Detdet Pepito added.
Both teams exchanged blows to open the match before the Tigresses ignited a 6-1 run, capitalized by quick attacks from Jurado to gain a 17-11 advantage.
Jaz Ellarina and Gerz Petallo sparked some offense for FEU, but UST stayed ahead with an off-the-block kill from Jonna Perdido, 25-17.
The Morayta-based squad kept things close to start the second frame, as a block point from foreign student-athlete Faida Bakanke trimmed FEU’s deficit to one, 16-15.
UST once again pulled away in the latter half, igniting a 9-3 run, as an opponent’s attack error sealed a 25-18 set win.
Despite the Morayta squad erasing an early deficit in the third frame, UST kept things close as a Bron ace placed the match at a 15-all deadlock.
The Tigresses eventually found separation late in the match after the Lady Tamaraws’ miscues began to pile up.
A crosscourt laser by Jurado from the right flank sealed the victory for the España volleybelles.
Ellarina paced FEU in the loss with eight attacks and two blocks, while Petallo contributed nine markers after exiting midway through the fourth set with a shoulder injury.
The schedule of the second round is yet to be announced. F
