THE UST Junior Golden Tigresses dropped their elimination-round capper against the defending champion Nazareth School of National University (NSNU) Lady Bullpups, 23-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-21, 16-18, in the UAAP Season 86 girls’ volleyball tournament at the Adamson Gym on Saturday, Jan. 27.
UST and NSNU, both Final Four-bound, ended the round with similar 8-4 records.
The unbeaten Adamson University Baby Falcons and FEU Diliman Baby Tamaraws are first and second, respectively, with one game to play.
A win by Adamson against FEU would trigger a stepladder format and create a three-way tie for second place, allowing the Lady Bullpups to rise to the No. 2 spot via point differential and edge out the Baby Tamaraws and Junior Golden Tigresses.
With UST down two-sets-to-one, an Abigail Sinson down-the-line hit forced the decider in the fourth set, 25-21.
UST was at match point, 14-13, but the Lady Bullpups came back and forced a 16-16 tie.
Denesse Daylisan had the finishing touches after sealing the game with back-to-back kills that allowed NSNU to outlast the Junior Golden Tigresses, 18-16.
The Lady Bullpups retaliated in the third frame, 25-21, after UST snatched the second set with a similar 25-21 set-win.
A close first set saw the Lady Bulllups overcome UST after a service ace by Diza Berayo, 25-23.
In the boys’ division, the UST Junior Golden Spikers improved to an 8-6 record, keeping their Final Four bid alive at fourth place after demolishing the DLSZ Junior Spikers in straight sets, 25-16, 25-22, 25-11.
The University of the East remained atop the standings with a twice-to-beat advantage (12-1), followed by Nazareth School of National University (11-2) and Far Eastern University Diliman (10-3).
The last day of elimination rounds is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 28, at the same venue. The league has yet to announce the dates and matchups for the semifinal round.
