THE UST Golden Tigresses were off to their best start in more than a decade after stunning the FEU Lady Tamaraws in five sets, 22-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-7, in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, March 3.
The Tigresses, who were on the brink of their first defeat before key reserves sparked a comeback, surged to a 4-0 record for the first time since the Season 73 women’s volleyball tournament in 2011.
UST had to dig deep to overcome the 40 errors it committed, the highest number by any team in the women’s division this season.
“Iyong mga errors, correctible naman lahat ‘yan,” UST head coach Emilio “Kung-Fu” Reyes said postgame. “Ang importante, naibabalik naman nila. Ang sabi ko lang, we lose a point, we lose a set, but do not lose your character.”
Despite tallying 11 aces, UST committed 20 errors from the service line, which accounted for half of the team’s total unforced errors.
Trailing UST by one in the first frame, 22-21, the Lady Tamaraws snatched the set with a 4-0 run to draw first blood.
The Tigresses struggled with errors in the second set, committing 14 compared to FEU’s four. Consecutive errors by Angeline Poyos and Regina Jurado allowed the Lady Tamaraws to take a two-sets-to-none lead.
Reyes played his wildcard in the third set by subbing in reserves Xyza Gula and Mae Coronado, who played pivotal roles in the team’s reverse sweep. The Tigresses rallied in the third set, overcoming a 16-12 deficit to win 25-23 after a 13-7 run.
Despite continuing to struggle with unforced errors in the fourth set, the Tigresses compensated with their 19 attack points compared to FEU’s eight. This strong performance led to a 25-20 fourth-set win for UST.
UST dominated the Lady Tamaraws in the decider, turning a strong 8-2 start into a 15-7 victory, capped off by back-to-back points by Gula.
Setter Cassie Carballo scored eight points and managed UST’s offense with 25 excellent sets, despite the team’s occasional errors.
Poyos led UST with a game-high 24 points built on 21 attacks, two blocks and one ace, while middle blocker Mary Banagua chalked up 15 points.
Gula and Jurado tallied 13 points apiece, while Jonna Perdido had 10 points.
Coronado, who did not see a minute of playing time in UST’s first three games, chalked up eight markers.
Three FEU players scored in double digits: Jean Asis and Chenie Tagaod with 15 markers apiece and Faida Bakanke with 11 markers.
The Golden Tigresses will next face the Ateneo Blue Eagles at the same venue on Saturday, March 9, at 2 p.m.
