IT WAS another home win for the UST Golden Tigresses as they swept the UE Lady Red Warriors, 25-21, 26-24, 25-21, in Round 2 of the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament on Easter Sunday, April 5, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
With the victory, UST improved to 7-4 to claim solo third in the tight race for a Final Four berth.
The Tigresses leaned on the power-hitting duo of Angge Poyos and Reg Jurado, who combined for 23 attacks, two blocks and three service aces.
“Actually, we only had one day of rest… we really focused on our service reception and prepared specifically for this UE game,” Poyos told The Flame.
“[W]e also had tune-up games where we worked on polishing our movements,” the MPVP frontrunner added.
Trailing early, UST unleashed an 11-5 run capped by a down-the-line hit from rookie Julia Balingit to take a 17-14 lead.
Poyos and Jurado sustained the charge, driving UST to a first-set win, 25-21.
The España-based squad carried its momentum into the second set, storming to an 11-3 advantage highlighted by a service ace from Poyos.
UST looked poised to cruise to the set after reaching set point at 24-15, but the Cepada-led UE mounted a 9-0 run to force a 24-all deadlock.
A service error by UE’s Shania Olmoguez, followed by an Avril Bron block, sealed the extended second frame for the Tigresses, 26-24.
In the third set, UST established a 19-13 cushion behind back-to-back power spikes from Poyos.
The Tigresses continued to fire on all cylinders, with Cassie Carballo delivering an ace to seal the victory.
Cepada led UE with 17 points on 15 attacks and two blocks, while Bea Zamudio had 10 attacks and two aces.
The Golden Tigresses will look to avenge their first-round loss to the Adamson Lady Falcons on Saturday, April 11, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. F
