THE UST Golden Tigresses absorbed their third defeat after suffering a 27-25, 25-22, 25-12 sweep at the hands of the Adamson Lady Falcons in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament on March 7, Saturday, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
UST saw its two-game winning streak snapped as it slipped to a 2-3 slate, while Adamson climbed to 3-2.
Adamson star Shaina Nitura dropped 22 points off of 19 attacks and three blocks, while Frances Mordi had 18 kills, a block and an ace.
It was a tight contest to begin the match until open spiker Xyza Gula whipped out a hit to cap a 4-0 UST run, 18-15.
Mordi imposed her presence, hammering four straight kills to force an extension, 24-all.
But it was Shaina Nitura who had the final kill, giving her team a 27-25 first-set win.
Another close affair met both squads in the second set, as Nitura scored off the block to take a slim 23-22 edge.
After a kill from Third Tuddao, Nitura challenged Gula at the net to put Adamson ahead two sets to none, 25-22.
The San Marcelino squad built a 20-6 cushion in the third frame, highlighted by back-to-back aces from Felicity Sagaysay.
UST tried to claw back with two straight hits from Reg Jurado and Bien Arasa, 24-12, but Adamson was just too much, as Nitura went through the defense for the win.
Jurado led the Tigresses’ offense with 17 attacks and an ace, while rookie Avril Bron backed her up with eight kills and two blocks.
The Tigresses will aim to bounce back when they face the UP Fighting Maroons on March 11 at the Mall of Asia Arena. F
