Far Eastern University handed the University of the Philippines a 25-13, 25-21, 25-16 defeat, marking its third straight win in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.
Down by six midway through the third set, 9-15, the Fighting Maroons cut the deficit in half, capped by an ace from Kianne Olango, 12-15.
But the Lady Tamaraws sealed the match as Lovely Lopez, Faida Bakanke, and Jazlyn Ellarina delivered four unanswered points to put the game away after one hour and 22 minutes.
(C) UAAP Season 86 Media Team
“Yung performance namin ibibigay ko talaga sa players ko lalo kay Gerzel and Alyzza. Yung leadership nila. Gusto ko rin i-acknowledge ‘yung mga coaches kasi inaral talaga namin ‘yung mga tendencies,” said FEU head coach Tina Salak. “Continue lang namin ‘yung ganitong momentum, and of course yung goal naman hindi natatapos ngayong first round.”
The Lady Tamaraws improved to 4-2, climbing to solo third place.
Alyzza Devosora spearheaded FEU’s attack with 15 points, coming from 13 attacks and two aces.
“Being the team captain is not easy po talaga. I really want to express myself also sa kanila and to be a good leader and good role model sa teammates ko,” said captain Gerzel Petallo, who contributed 13 points on 10-of-20 kills and two aces, along with eight digs and eight receptions.
Cla Loresco also delivered a strong performance with 11 points on seven attacks and four blocks, while Ellarina and Bakanke added nine and eight points, respectively.
FEU will aim to end the first round on a four-game winning streak when it faces traditional rival University of Santo Tomas, which has struggled this season, on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
(C) UAAP Season 86 Media Team
The Fighting Maroons, who had pulled off a reverse sweep against erstwhile-unbeaten National University Lady Bulldogs in their previous game, slipped to 3-2, tied for fourth with the Adamson University Lady Falcons.
UP’s challenge was compounded by transferee Casiey Dongallo, who went down with an apparent left-leg injury after a bad landing in the first set while her team trailed 11-24.
No one on the Fighting Maroons breached double digits, with Joan Monares leading the team with eight points, followed by Kianne Olango and Niña Ytang with six points each.
UP will look to return to the win column on Wednesday against UST at the MOA Arena.
