THE UST Girls Volleyball Team, while reigning as UAAP Champions, hopes to extend its supremacy at the net in the 1st Shakey’s Girls Invitational League, which kicked off last Aug.14.
Coach Francis Vicente believes his team, now toting a 2-1 slate, is physically and mentally prepared for the tough competition.
“The team is doing well. The starters, as well as my second players, continually improve their game. I know I would not have problems ahead,” Vicente said.
HCS halts UST
UST’s attempt at a third-straight victory was spoiled by a small but terrible team, Hope Christian School (HCS), which carved a 25-18, 20-25, 20-25 victory last Aug. 28 at the UST Gym.
The taller UST lineup had a good start to take the first set as spikers Vivian Paguinto, Kim Lazaro, and Clarize Lucindo displayed awesome offensive firepower, puncturing HCS’ poor defense.
Both teams went neck and neck in the early goings of the second set, exchanging not only hits, but also reception errors. With the score tied at 13, HCS staged an 8-2 run behind open spiker Joan Rebotiago for a six-point cushion, 21-15.
UST managed to close in at 20-23, but HCS main spiker Carmela Gambin sealed the deal, blocking UST’s desperation attacks.
It was almost the same fate for both squads in the third set. After a tied score at 13, the UST Volleybelles began to lose composure with uncalled-for reception errors and net violations from Lazaro, Lucindo, and Paguinto that gave HCS a commanding 23-15 lead.
Vicente’s wards tried to revive their winning chances behind the crosscourt hits of Lazaro with a 5-1 run, but proved too late as HCS frontliners denied last-minute hits from UST to snatch the deciding set.
Preceding wins
The Junior Volleybelles notched a win against Immaculate Conception Academy (ICA) in a straight set match, 25-16, 25-15, last Aug. 21 at the UST gym.
ICA’s taller spikers were no match for UST’s frontliners Lazaro, Carmela Lopez, and Rhea Dimaculangan.
UST was dominant throughout the game as the reserve players, led by setter Giselle Sy, displayed well offensively and defensively.
In its debut match, UST edged Rondon High School, 25-19, 17-25, 25-16, last Aug. 14 at the UST Gym.
Although it was an off-day for UST’s main spiker Lazaro, utility spiker Lopez and open spikers Lucindo and Paguinto stepped up with efficient hits and precise blocks to secure the win.
The victory was sweet for the UST Junior Volleybelles, who finally exacted revenge on the Rondon Squad that thrashed them in the Torribio Cup last year.
“The tournament will surely help us in the coming UAAP wars. It is a big exposure and a timely chance to develop (the players’) skills,” Vicente said.
