THE NATIONAL University Lady Bulldogs kept their perfect record after defeating the gritty UST Golden Tigresses, 25-19, 14-25, 25-19, 28-26, in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament at the Arena in San Juan Sunday.
The Lady Bulldogs remained atop with their fifth win in as many games while the Tigresses dropped to sixth place with a 2-3 slate.
Tied at 26-all, UST committed a costly error before Risa Sato’s block kill on Cherry Rondina sealed a heavily-fought fourth set for NU.
“Nag-collapse lang kami sa dulo. Doon sa sobrang gigil, meron tayong mga chances na mag-overball na outside,” Golden Tigresses’ Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes Jr. said.
NU scored three of the final five points in the third set to take a crucial 2-1 set advantage, 25-19.
UST broke free from a slim 10-9 lead in the second canto through a 15-5 rally topped by a Lady Bulldog service error to equalize.
An attack error on the Tigresses capped a 5-1 spurt for NU in the opening set, 25-19.
The Tigresses scattered 35 errors against NU’s 29.
Jaja Santiago led the way for the Lady Bulldogs with 19 points while Urdas chalked up 10.
Rondina led anew for the Tigresses and beat all scorers with 25 points.
The Golden Tigresses will try to bounce back against the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons on Feb. 28, 2 p.m., at the same venue.
