DESPITE BEING plagued by errors, the UST Golden Tigresses subdued the FEU Lady Tamaraws in four sets, 25-17, 25-17, 18-25, 25-16, in Round 2 of the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday, March 29.
The Tigresses banked on 51 attack points to FEU’s 32 despite commiting 22 miscues in the win before a home crowd at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
“After our loss from DLSU, we did lots of things to forget that loss,” UST team captain and libero Detdet Pepito said postgame.
“I kept telling my teammates that our campaign is still not done and after that, we knew how we can recover,” Pepito added.
With the win, UST joins FEU and Adamson in a three-way tie at 6-4.
Rookie middle blockers Avril Bron and Lianne Penuliar came alive with timely quick attacks and crucial blocks midway through the first set to establish a four-point advantage for UST, 18-14.
With the Tamaraws struggling with reception woes, UST ace Angge Poyos drilled back-to-back kills to cap a 7-3 blitz and take a 25-17 opener set win.
The España volleybelles kept the momentum on their side after lefty spiker Reg Jurado fired two crosscourt kills and an ace for a five-point lead in the second set, 17-12.
Errors kept the Tamaraws alive late in the set but Jurado and Poyos delivered the finishing touches to go up two sets to none, 25-17.
Four straight errors by UST breathed life to the Tamaraws midway through the third set as Faida Bakanke and Alyzza Devosora hammered back-to-back kills for a 16-12 advantage.
The España squad gave five more freebies in the endgame, as FEU spiker Love Lopez punched down-the-line kills to keep the Tamaraws in the match, 25-18.
UST was quick to recover in the fourth frame after a block by Jonna Perdido put them up by six, 13-7.
It was the España squad’s time to capitalize on the errors of FEU as Bron notched back-to-back kill blocks to widen the gap by nine, 22-13.
Devosora powered FEU’s last heave late in the set but a drop ball by Jurado sealed the set and the game for the Tigresses.
Poyos carried the offensive load for UST in her 18-point production, while Jurado added 16 markers. Pepito anchored the defense of the
Bakanke and Lopez paced the Lady Tamaraws with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
The Tigresses will seek for back-to-back wins when they return to face the UE Lady Warriors on Sunday, April 5, at the same venue after the Holy Week break. F
