It’s the end of an era for UST as long-time Golden Tigresses Eya Laure and Imee Hernandez announced their departure from the school to pursue professional careers on Thursday night.
Hernandez was the first to announce her decision to leave UST after her graduation this year.
“Now that I am done with my studies, with you by my side, I am more than ready to face the bigger challenges that lie ahead as I continue to pursue my passion for the game of volleyball on a grander stage and under brighter lights. I have decided to go professional,” Hernandez wrote on social media.
“UST is a place that will never be easy to part with, not just for me but for most of us athletes who remain here as well,” she added.
Hernandez, a product of UST volleyball since high school, bagged the 1st Best Middle Blocker award in the UAAP Season 80 girls’ volleyball tournament. In her rookie year, she clinched 2nd Best Middle Blocker in the 2019 PVL Collegiate Conference.
Laure, who spent the last 12 years as a member of UST’s women’s volleyball program, bid UST farewell minutes later. The volleyball superstar expressed her apologies for not being able to bring a championship to the University during her time as a collegiate player.
“Kaya siguro up until the last minute, I wanted to find a way to play for one more year. Para akong nakikipag-break sa libu-libong tao and my heart is shattering into pieces. Ang sakit at ang hirap magpaalam,” Laure said.
“Patawad dahil hindi ko naibigay yung championship na deserve niyo. But more than that, salamat. Parang sasabog ang dibdib ko sa sobrang laki ng pasasalamat na meron ako sa inyo,” she added.
In the juniors level, Laure was the Rookie of the Year in Season 75, Best Setter in Season 76, Best Attacker in Season 77, Most Valuable Player in Season 78, and Best Opposite Hitter in Seasons 79 and 80.
In her first year in the seniors’ division, Laure took home the Rookie of the Year and 1st Best Outside Hitter honors.
She was the second runner-up for the MVP award in the recently concluded Season 85.
The Laure-led Tigresses, alongside Hernandez, missed the podium for two straight seasons, finishing fourth in Seasons 84 and 85.
