REDEEMING itself after a disastrous semifinal exit, the UST High School girl’s volleyball team trounced the University of the East, 25-10, 20-25, 25-19, to clinch third place in the juniors division of the 6th Toribio Cup last December 9 at the UE gymnasium.
“Win or lose, after this campaign, we will do our best in the UAAP,” coach Francis Vicente said. “I would like to see the fruits of our labor at the end of the season.”
UST ripped the game wide-open early in the first set, taking an insurmountable 12-4 start against the seemingly intractable UE crew.
But the Recto-based squad was not to be denied, extending the match to a winner-take-all third set after surging ahead by six, 10-16 midway into the second set. Then it was an all-UST affair from there on.
The España-based lasses raced to a 6-1 capped by a 5-0 attacking splurge that eventually left the UE girls in tatters in the entire third set to cap their campaign with a podium finish.
UST spikers Alyssa Valdez and Aeriel Patnongon combined for 32 points while Jillien Mijares led with 18 markers.
Dead end
Prior to facing UE, UST absorbed a 26-24, 22-25, 19-25 pawning from Hope Christian School last December 8.
“We played and did our best just like any other game but what spelled the difference was the team’s experience,” Vicente said.
After escaping by a whisker in the first set, UST found the opposition a tough costumer in the second frame as Hope unleashed a 5-0 salvo for an 18-23 edge to tie the match at one-set apiece.
Although UST tried to salvage the contest from the defensive end, their efforts were not enough to contain Hope, who took a 10-16 upperhand to virtually book a finals seat.
