THE UST Beach Volleyball teams remain in the hunt for a winning formula in the inaugural edition of the UAAP Beach Volleyball Competition at the University of the East-Caloocan Campus.
Lady Spikers assistant coach Cesael delos Santos told the Varsitarian that his wards are still recovering with their 3-2 win-loss record. The team, known to be a perennial contender in the UAAP volleyball, lost their spunk against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Spikers in a 21-15, 17-21, 9-15 loss last Sept. 24.
“There is nothing to worry since the team shows remarkable progress game after game,” De los Santos said.
In the deciding set, UST trailed FEU at 2-5 for a lethargic start. But the España-based volleybelles staged an almost mighty comeback for an 8-7 lead, only to chalk up a measly single point in the homestretch that paved way for a 0-8 FEU blast.
In the same day, the España-based spikers scored a blowout win against National University, 21-11 and 21-19. Cherry Ann Balse, younger sister of UST ace spiker Mary Jean Balse, led the team with 11 points.
UST also carved a nail biter 21-18, 21-18 win against the feisty Ateneo de Manila University Lady Spikers last Sept.23. Balse again paced UST with 13 points.
But the Lady Spikers suffered setback against the more experienced Adamson University Lady Spikers, the defending champions of the 2006 Nestea Beach Volleyball Challenge, 10-21, 6-21, last Sept.17.
Earlier in the same day, UST jumpstarted the UAAP Beach Volleyball wars in a winning note after a hard-beating 21-12, 21-15 victory over the University of the Philippines (UP). Balse got an ample support from teammate Marie Cu as they chipped in 10 points each to seal the victory.
Early struggles
With a 1-4 win-loss slate, assistant coach Odjie Mamon said that the competition is a good learning experience for the rookie-laden Tiger Spikers.
“The exposure will help in their training,” Mamon said.
Newbies Harvey Ilano, Henry Pecana, and Nikko Pavino, the Tiger Spikers have yet to rediscover their competitiveness as shown by their 12-21, 9-21 loss against UP last Sept. 24 and their only win coming by default last Sept. 23 against National University.
Ilano was the lone spark for underdogs as he scored 11 markers.
In earlier games, the Tiger Spikers also absorbed heartbreaking losses against known UAAP tormentor FEU, 18-21, 20-22, last Sept. 23; Adamson Spikers, 12-21, 24-26, last Sept. 17 and against UP, 15-21, 23-21, 11-15, last Sept.16.
UAAP Beach Volleyball follows the best of three format instead of the usual best of five. The first team to rack up 21 points, instead of the usual 25, wins the game. Each team fields two players, while the third-stringer is a reserve. Beach volleyball, however, will not be included in the overall championship tally because of its demo sport status.
