University of Santo Tomas extended its winning streak to three games in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament with a commanding 21-25, 25-11, 25-22, 25-12 victory over Ateneo de Manila University on Saturday afternoon at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Despite dropping the opening set, the Golden Tigresses quickly found their rhythm in the next three frames, securing a share of third place and building momentum ahead of a crucial second-round clash against the unbeaten De La Salle University Lady Spikers on Wednesday, March 25, at the historic Big Dome.
Led by MVP frontrunner Angge Poyos and Reg Jurado, UST’s win kept them tied for third with Far Eastern University, both holding a 5-3 record. The victory also gave them breathing room over Adamson University (4-3), which is set to face La Salle later in the day’s four-game slate.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Rinemind lang yung players na ilaro lang kung ano lang dapat ilaro. Especially sa first set, medyo slow start kami and nakakuha sila ng set sa amin. Namiss ulit nila yung bulyaw para magising. Nevertheless, nagising naman sila at maganda yung response nila,” said Golden Tigresses assistant coach Yani Fernandez, who filled in for Shaq Delos Santos in the post-game as the head coach went straight to Filoil Centre for Cignal’s PVL match against Creamlin.
Eager to shake off a sluggish start, UST stamped its class with a dominant 25-12 second-set triumph before overcoming Ateneo’s stern challenge in the third frame. Clutch hits from Poyos and Marga Altea propelled the Golden Tigresses to a 25-22 win, giving them a crucial 2-1 set advantage.
In the fourth set, UST did not give the Blue Eagles any breathing room, turning a 6-all deadlock into a comfortable eight-point 15-7 lead, capped by an Avril Bron ace, a Zel Tsunashima attack error, and a Jonna Perdido block.
The Golden Tigresses maintained their momentum throughout the fourth set, eventually finishing the match in one hour and 48 minutes with two Bron attacks, an offspeed hit by Jurado, and a game-winning block from Poyos on Ysa Nisperos.
“For me, marami pa kami hindi nailalabas, like yung connection namin from setter to spiker and from middle [blocker] to setter. Parang polishing siguro ng galaw and coming sa next game namin, which is La Salle, siguro yung pagkukulang namin this game, i-improve lang namin sa training,” Poyos said. She powered UST with 25 points on 22 attacks and three blocks, along with 11 excellent receptions and five excellent digs.
Jurado showcased an all-around performance with 20 points on 14 attacks, six of UST’s 12 blocks, and 21 excellent digs, while Perdido contributed 11 points, nine excellent digs, and four excellent receptions. Bron finished with seven points on five attacks and four excellent digs.
Season 86 Best Setter Cassie Carballo dished out 22 excellent sets along with two points, while team captain and two-time UAAP Best Libero Detdet Libero anchored the defense with 13 excellent sets and 10 excellent receptions.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, Ateneo struggled to replicate last Sunday’s breakthrough win over University of the East. Despite taking the first set, the Blue Eagles remained in seventh place with a 1-7 record.
Rookie hitter Ana Hermosura was Ateneo’s only player in double digits, finishing with 13 points, 12 excellent digs, and nine excellent receptions.
Tsunashima followed with nine points on eight attacks and three excellent digs.
Alex Montoro added eight points, eight excellent receptions, and six excellent digs, while sophomore middle blocker Jihan Chuatico contributed seven points on five attacks.
Ateneo will look to bounce back when it faces Adamson at the same venue later in the day.
