UST’S JUNIOR volleyball teams suffered losses to the Far Eastern University and the University of the East to conclude Round 1 of the UAAP Season 86 high school volleyball tournaments on Dec. 17.
In the girls’ division, the FEU Diliman Baby Tamaraws snapped the Junior Golden Tigresses’ four-game winning streak, 20-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-23, at the Adamson University Gymnasium.
UST mixed things up in the fourth salvo as team captain Marga Altea, who initially played as an outside hitter, became the team’s middle blocker.
Tied at 8-all, the Junior Golden Tigresses pulled off a quick 4-1 run capped by a Stephanie Arasan down-the-line kill that forced FEU to call a timeout, 12-9.
The Baby Tamaraws answered with a game-sealing 16-11 run capped by a service ace by Shiela Pascual.
FEU entered the third frame scorching hot, mounting a nine-point lead, 15-6, midway through the set.
UST’s Jaila Adrao tried to stop the bleeding with back-to-back block points, but the Tigresses’ poor first balls hindered them from holding out the pesky Baby Tamaraws.
The Junior Golden Tigresses drew first blood after opening the game with a 25-20 set win, but FEU escaped UST in the second salvo, 25-23.
“Medyo out of focus ‘yong mga players e, iyon ‘yong isa sa mga factors bakit natalo today,” UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes told the Varsitarian. “Normal lang naman na may nananalo, may natatalo, we’ll just do better sa next round.”
UST ended the first round with a 4-2 win-loss record, while FEU secured the solo second spot with a 5-1 slate.
In the boys’ division, the UST Junior Tiger Spikers dropped to a 3-4 record after yielding to the undefeated UE Junior Warriors in four sets, 25-23, 26-28, 18-25, 21-25.
The league has yet to announce the game matchups for the second round that will start in January next year. with reports from Albert Earl A. Gomez
