THE UNIVERSITY of the Philippines Lady Maroons took home their fourth straight win at the expense of the UST Golden Tigresses, 25-22, 25-22, 29-31, 25-19, in the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament at the Arena in San Juan Sunday.
It was the first time the Lady Maroons surrendered a set this season but they remained composed to give UST its third loss in four outings.
The Tigresses were within reach in the fourth set, 18-21, but UP scored four quick points, highlighted by an Isa Molde ace, to seal the victory.
Diana Carlos led UP with 18 points while Molde and Nicole Tiamzon added 14 and 13, respectively.
“A-game ang UP. [Dumidikit kami] pero kapag umabot sa 20-point mark, umaayaw na kami. May resulta ‘yung mga pinaghihirapan namin kaya lang, kulang pa,” UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes Jr. said.
UP had a chance to put the game away in three sets, but its four match points in the third set were erased with the Tigresses banking on team captains EJ Laure and Cherry Ann Rondina, who delivered crucial hits down the stretch.
Laure paced UST with 18 kills while Rondina and Chloe Cortez had 12 points apiece.
The first two sets were of the same story as the Tigresses capitalized on the Lady Maroons’ unforced errors to keep the game close, but could not finish the job. UP committed 12 errors in the second set alone but made up for them with 15 attack points.
At sixth place, the Tigresses (1-3) will face the Adamson University on Feb. 25, Saturday, at the same venue. With a report from Maria Charisse Ann G. Refuerzo
