March 12, 2016, 7:30p.m. – THE UST Golden Tigresses suffered a humbling 11-25, 13-25, 17-25 defeat against De La Salle University Lady Spikers in the second round of eliminations of the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament at the San Juan Arena Saturday.
The Lady Spikers dominated the field with 33 kills, 13 block points and seven service aces.
UST was down six points in the third set, 6-12, before the Lady Spikers ignited an 8-4 run to build a 21-10 cushion. A drop shot from Ara Galang sealed the win for La Salle.
The Tigresses were trailing 8-12 in the middle of the opening salvo until La Salle exploded with a 13-3 blitz, capped by a Mika Reyes service ace, to close the set.
The loss marked the first time UST failed to reach the 20-point mark and lost in straight sets this season.
La Salle kept its momentum in the second set as its three-point lead ballooned to 12 after a 10-1 run to arrive at set point. A clean spike from Lady Spiker Cyd Demecillo ended the set.
“Nablanko. Natarget ‘yung dalawang outside hitter namin, di talaga kami makapasa [sa setter,]” UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes Jr. said. “Very uncharacteristic, parang ibang tao ‘yung naglalaro.”
Kim Dy led La Salle with 12 points while Galang and Reyes scored 11 markers apiece. UST captain Ennajie Laure and Cherry Ann Rondina combined for 15 points.
The Golden Tigresses now hold a 4-5 win-loss card and will face the Adamson University on March 16, Wednesday, 2 p.m., at the same venue. Carlo A. Casingcasing
