Despite their star middle blocker in crutches, the UP Lady Maroons pulled off another straight set mastery over the struggling UE Lady Warriors, 25-17, 25-13, 25-21 at the MoA Arena.
The Lady Maroons severely outplayed the Lady Warriors in all facets of volleyball with UP notching more spikes (34-24), aces (13-9), and giving up less errors (14-24).
UP team captain Nicole Tiamzon got her team rolling early in the match, converting four spikes to propel UP to a 12-5 lead. The Lady Maroons kept a seven-point cushion throughout the set, quelling any advances by their opponents.
The Lady Warriors looked to make the second set a closer affair, giving up only a 6-8 deficit. But Tiamzon had an outstanding sequence from the service line to extend her team’s lead to 13-6, as she drilled home two aces in the process. UE team captain Shaya Adorador sprained her left ankle midway through the set, further hampering UE as they lost the second set, 13-25.
The Lady Warriors found new life to start the third set, taking their first lead of the game and nursing it to a 10-8 advantage. UE’s shaky reception opened the door for a UP surge that had them snatch the lead, 12-10. Both teams traded the lead throughout the set before UE collapsed towards the end, allowing UP to take a 23-19 lead. The Lady Warriors strung together consecutive scores before giving up the final two points on errors.
The win keeps UP within striking range of a Final Four spot as they now sit at fourth with a 4-4 record while the Lady Warriors have yet to win a set all season.
The scores:
UP- Tiamzon 12, Araneta 8, Buitre 7, Ilustre 6, Alinas 6, Lai 5, Mangulabnan 3, Sandoval 2, Magtalas 0, Estranero (L) 0
UE- Abil 7, Dawis 7, Baliton 5, Ramos 5, Juanillo 4, Adorador 3, Ponon 2, Dacaymat 2, Manansala 2, Alcayde 0, Arado (L) 0
