February 7, 2016, 6:57p.m. – THE UST Golden Tigresses remain winless in two games as they suffered a 22-25, 20-25, 25-21, 15-25 loss against the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles in the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament at the Arena in San Juan Sunday.
The Tigresses worked to limit their errors this time but still gave away 34 points to the two-time defending champions.
UST ran out of steam in the fourth set as Ateneo capitalized on their poor floor defense. The Lady Eagles turned a 7-all deadlock into a 13-7 lead and never looked back.
Golden Tigresses head coach Emilio Reyes Jr rued his wards’ lack of consistency which cost them the match.
“Umaangat kami, tapos mag-service error kami.” Reyes said. “Okay na din ‘yung sa simula nahihirapan kami kesa naman banderang kapos sa dulo.”
The Golden Tigresses had been clinging on a slim two-point lead in the third set, 17-15, before Cherry Rondina fired back-to-back hits for a 19-15 advantage.
Both teams exchanged attacks until Chloe Cortez sealed the set for UST with a block over reigning Most Valuable Player Alyssa Valdez.
UST was trailing 22-23 at the first set but a service error by Jessey de Leon, followed by an ace from Madeleine Madayag, gave the Lady Eagles the set.
Rondina followed up her 30-point outburst in their first game with another stellar showing of 21 points to lead UST. Golden Tigresses captain EJ Laure added 11.
UST will try to get their first win of the season against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws on Saturday, 4pm, at the same venue. L. A. F. Sykioco
