THE UST Lady Spikers are a game away from landing a spot in the finals, rolling past National University and Adamson University in the UAAP women’s beach volleyball tournament at the Sands at SM by the Bay Monday.
UST’s Cherry Rondina and Jem Gutierrez outplayed the Lady Bulldogs, 21-18 and 21-16, and preyed on the Lady Falcons, 21-9, 21-13, to give the Lady Spikers a clean 6-0 slate.
NU led by a point late in the second set, 15-14, before Rondina took matters into her own hands and scored five points in UST’s pivotal 7-1 run to stay unbeaten.
In the second game, Adamson committed 14 errors throughout the match, nine of them coming in the first set.
The Lady Spikers held a slim 6-4 margin in the second set but a barrage of Rondina attacks broke the game wide open and punctuated UST’s biggest lead of the set, 19-10.
Rondina chalked up 21 points, 12 of them coming in the second set alone. Gutierrez chipped in seven points in the win against Adamson.
“Hindi ko ine-expect tong elimination na makukuha namin, kasi may ipopolish pa na konting konti na lang, di pa rin kami pwedeng makumpiyansa,” UST head coach Paul Jan Doloiras told the Varsitarian.
The Lady Spikers will face Far Eastern University on Friday, Oct. 7, at the same venue. A win against FEU will result to a tournament sweep and a ticket to the finals.
