THE UST Golden Tigresses are a win away from returning to the Final Four with a 17-25, 25-17, 26-24, 25-21 victory over the FEU Lady Tamaraws in the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.
UST tallied 77 digs and 47 kills to clinch its seventh win in 11 outings and to secure at least a playoff for a semifinals spot.
The Lady Tamaraws took the lead midway through the fourth set, 13-11, before the Tigresses unleashed a 13-3 blitz to arrive at match point. EJ Laure’s off-the-block shot sealed UST’s victory.
“Masayang nanalo kami kaya lang masakit sa mata kinukulang pa rin kami sa end game. Ayun ang kailangan namin gamutin para makapasok sa semis,” UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes Jr. said.
Laure had a game-high 20 points to lead the Tigresses while team captain Cherry Ann Rondina chipped in 15 points.
FEU, which trailed by as much as eight points in the third set, forced a 24-all deadlock off a 10-2 run but the Tigresses scored back-to-back points for a 2-1 set lead.
The Tigresses were right within striking distance in the opening set, 15-18, until FEU rode on a 7-2 spurt to draw first blood.
Bernadette Pons and Toni Rose Basas tallied 17 and 15 points for FEU.
UST will face the De La Salle University Lady Spikers on March 29, Wednesday, 4 p.m., at the same venue.
