ROOKIE of the Year Eya Laure went down in the third set and the Ateneo Lady Eagles took advantage Wednesday, seizing Game 2 to force a do-or-die game for the UAAP women’s volleyball title.
UST’s Laure scored 10 points but the Golden Tigresses bowed down to the Lady Eagles, 24-26, 25-14, 21-25, 15-25, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
UST tied the game at one-set apiece when Laure had to be taken out of the court early in the third set after hurting her left ankle.
The Tigresses still kept control and chalked up an 18-17 lead.
Laure came back later in the game, but Ateneo already gained the upper hand, capped by Bea de Leon’s off-the-block kill for a commanding 2-1 set lead.
Lady Eagle Kat Tolentino’s off-the-block kill ended a 21-9 Ateneo run in the fourth frame for a comfortable 12-point lead, but the Tigresses showed life as they came back with a four-point swing, 21-13.
Ateneo, however, retaliated with a 4-2 spurt, sealed by a KC Galdones service error to force a deciding game.
UST dominated the second salvo, topping the win with a 7-0 bomb, topped by a Caitlyn Viray block kill to tie the game at one set apiece, 25-14.
The Tigresses held a 14-10 advantage in the opening canto, but a furious Ateneo rally knotted the set at 23-all.
With UST at set point, 24-23, after Viray’s through-the-block hit, the Lady Eagles uncorked a three-point swing, capped by Laure’s attack error, 26-24.
Maddie Madayag paced Ateneo with 17 points, while de Leon and Tolentino added 13 and 11 markers, respectively.
Team captain Sisi Rondina, whose parents were flown in by UST alumni from Cebu to see her play, led UST with 22 markers.
Game 3 is set on May 18, Saturday, 4 p.m., at the same venue.
