THE UST Golden Tigresses outlasted the National University Lady Bulldogs in five sets, 25-14, 25-18, 17-25, 19-25, 15-12, to notch their second win in the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena Saturday.
The Lady Bulldogs led early in the deciding frame, 11-6, before the Golden Tigresses unleashed a 7-1 run to snatch the lead, 13-12.
A back-to-back block over NU’s captain Myla Pablo sealed the win for UST.
The Golden Tigresses banked on their 49 attack points and capitalized on the Lady Bulldogs’ 34 unforced errors to improve to a 2-3 win-loss card.
The Tigresses had the chance to pull away in the fourth set, but the Lady Bulldogs ignited a 10-3 blitz to arrive at set point. A quick middle play by Jaja Santiago extended the match to a decider.
“Hanggang sa huli ‘di kami bumigay. So ‘yung character na pinipilit namin buuin nagkakaroon na ng linaw. Kung ‘yung panalo nga sa UE morale booster na, siguro [‘yung win] ngayon nare-redeem na nila ‘yung sarili nila,” UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes said.
Sophomores Cherry Anne Rondina and Ennajie Laure led UST with 21 points apiece while Carmela Tunay added 13 points. NU’s Santiago and Pablo had 23 and 20, respectively.
UST led early in the third salvo, 6-5, but the Lady Bulldogs uncorked a quick 12-4 run to build a 16-10 lead.
The Tigresses were holding on a 16-13 lead in the middle of the second frame before firing an 8-4 run to arrive at set point, 24-17.
NU committed 12 unforced errors in the second set alone.
UST will face the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons on Feb. 28, Sunday, 4 p.m. at the San Juan Arena.
