The University of the Philippines Lady Maroons ended their UAAP Season 80 Women’s Volleyball campaign as the hottest team not to make the Final Four, scoring their third straight win at the expense of the University of the East Lady Warriors, 25-14, 22-25, 25-23, 25-23, at the Blue Eagle Gym.
The Lady Maroons let an early advantage slip in the first set. Trailing 5-8, the Lady Warriors rattled off straight points, peppered with UP errors, to take control 13-8. UP continued their porous play and allowed UE to grab a 1-0 lead.
From there, sudden comebacks spelled the match. UP, behind 17-21, rallied back and took eight of the next nine points to equalize the match at a set apiece.
Going from a 16-13 lead to a trailing 16-21, UP had the last hoorah in the third set. UE’s offense was muffled, giving up errors and “gimmes” to knot a set at 21. Tots Carlos broke the deadlock, firing an ace for a 24-22 lead. With UE threatening to force a deuce, UP found a clutch block to close the set from Marian Buitre.
UP closed the match in fitting fashion. Erasing a 17-20 deficit, UP built a 22-20 lead before the Lady Warriors made one last push. Tied at 23, Carlos and Isa Molde capped the win with back-to-back kills.
“We wanted to finish strong. Today, we didn’t finish that strong. With the way we’ve been playing, I expected a 3-0. But 3-1 is still good,” said UP first year head coach Godfrey Okumu.
For the first time this season, Molde topped the Lady Maroons in scoring with 19 points while Tots Carlos added 14.
The Lady Maroons have no players who exhausted their playing years.
Shaya Adorador played her last UAAP game for UE and scored 15 points.
UP finishes the season with a 6-8 record. UE settles for a 2-12 slate.
The Scores
UP (3) – Molde 19, Carlos 14, Buitre 11, Layug 5, Estrañero 3, Layug 3, Ramos 3, Cailing 1, Lim 0, Dorog (L), Thai (L)
UE (1) – Adorador 15, Mendrez 13, Abil 12, Rodriguez 7, Baliton 5, Bendong 1, Catindig 0, Manabat 0, Arado (L)
