THE UST Golden Tigresses surrendered a tight five-setter to the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles, 25-19, 25-22, 25-27, 22-25, 11-15, in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament at the Arena in San Juan Wednesday.
Despite a 2-0 set advantage, the Tigresses faltered down the stretch and fell to a 5-3 win-loss card for third place, while the Lady Eagles took solo first with a 7-1 slate.
Trailing 9-10 in the deciding set, Ateneo unleashed a furious 6-1 rally, capped by Sisi Rondina’s attack error to notch their seventh-straight win.
With UST leading 17-12 in the fourth frame, the Lady Eagles went on a 13-5 blast, topped by Kat Tolentino’s crosscourt kill to force a decider.
The Tigresses had a slim one-point lead in the third canto, 25-24, before Ateneo ignited a three-point swing, highlighted by Bea de Leon’s service ace to avert a sweep.
Back-to-back kills from Rondina in the second salvo allowed UST to grab a commanding 2-0 set advantage, 25-22.
The Tigresses uncorked a 20-8 burst early in the first set as Lady Eagle Erika Raagas’ attack error gave UST the upper hand early.
Ateneo dominated the blocking department, 24-11.
Maddie Madayag led the Lady Eagles with 23 points while Tolentino added 20 markers.
Rondina had a career-high 35 points while Laure added 21 markers for the Tigresses.
