THE UST Golden Tigresses saw their three-game winning streak end after crumbling before the league-best DLSU Lady Archers in four sets, 25-12, 18-25, 25-23, 25-14, during Round 2 of the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday, March 25, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
UST committed more than twice as many errors as DLSU, 33-15, including 10 during the third set, where the Lady Spikers erased an eight-point deficit to seize momentum.
With the loss, the Tigresses slipped to a 5-4 slate, while the Lady Spikers extended their dominant run to a spotless 9-0.
DLSU fired on all cylinders to open the match, as a block from Amie Provido, coupled with multiple UST errors, propelled the Lady Spikers to a 19-9 start.
An off-the-block hit from Shane Reterta capped off a 5-1 DLSU run to draw first blood, 25-12.
The España volleybelles had a much better showing in the second salvo, as back-to-back kills from foreign student-athlete Blessing Unekwe gave her team its first lead of the game, 16-15.
UST continued to strum the chords with a 13–3 run, capped by a crosscourt laser from Reg Jurado to claim a 25-18 set win and tie the match.
Momentum remained on the España’s side early in the third set after Angge Poyos converted a crosscourt hit for a 16-10 advantage.
The Taft squad eventually turned the tide back to their favor, erupting for a 13-3 blitz finished off by a kill from Angel Canino to push UST to the brink, 25-23.
UST’s dry spell remained in the early stages of the fourth frame, as an off-the-block kill from team captain Shevana Laput kept her team in the driver’s seat, 16-9.
A double contact error capped off a late 6-2 run from the Lady Spikers to seal the victory.
Canino led DLSU with 17 points on 15 attacks and two blocks, while Laput backed her up with 11 attacks, two blocks, and an ace. Reterta added 10 markers.
Poyos paced the Tigresses in the loss with 20 points built on 19 attacks and a block, while Jurado chipped in 12 markers.
The Tigresses will look to bounce back when they face their neighboring rivals FEU Lady Tamaraws on Sunday, March 29, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. F
