THE UST Golden Tigresses booked their Final Four ticket after pounding the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 25-23, 25-18, 25-23, in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena Sunday.
The Tigresses took solo third place with a 9-4 win-loss record, while the Lady Tamaraws fell to fourth behind an 8-5 slate.
With the third canto tied at 22-all, UST fired a 3-1 spurt, sealed by prized rookie Eya Laure’s crosscourt hit for the win.
“Kontrolado nila ang game. Nandoon ang aggressiveness nila sa laro pero pagdating sa positioning and timing, nag-commit kami ng maraming errors sa first set pero nakita naman namin na bumawi talaga sila” UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes Jr. said.
Leading 14-10 in the second set, the Tigresses went on an 11-8 spree, topped by Alina Bicar’s one-two play for a commanding 2-0 set advantage.
Team captain Sisi Rondina’s crosscourt kill in the first frame allowed UST to take the upper hand early, 25-23.
The Tigresses outscored the Lady Tamaraws in service aces, 11-3.
Rondina led all scorers with 21 points, while Laure added 17 markers for UST.
Heather Guino-o spearheaded FEU with 14 points.
The Tigresses will try to end the elimination round on a high note against the National University Lady Bulldogs on April 27, Saturday, 2 p.m., at the Arena in San Juan.
