THE UST Golden Tigresses fended off the Adamson Lady Falcons in four sets, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15, 28-26, to complete a rare first-round sweep in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, March 16.
The last time UST achieved a first-round sweep in women’s volleyball was in UAAP Season 69, one of its championship seasons.
“Mahaba pa rin ang liga, pero still, luckily na ‘Lucky 7’ namin ‘yung record namin ngayong first round,” UST head coach Emilio ‘Kung-fu’ Reyes said postgame. “Mas malaking challenge ‘yung papasok na second round.
UST will enter the second round as the hunted team as it sits atop the standings with a perfect 7–0 record.
After a nearly four-hour delay to the match which was supposed to start at 4 p.m., the Tigresses started strong with a 13-5 run to secure the opening set, winning 25-18.
The Lady Falcons tied the game at one set apiece after overcoming the Tigresses with a 25-22 second-set win.
In the third set, the Tigresses displayed an offensive masterclass, capitalizing on 15 attack points, which equaled Adamson’s total points for the set. This performance gave them a two-sets-to-one advantage, winning the set 25-15.
After a down-the-line hit by Lucille Almonte gave Adamson a one-point lead in the extended fourth set, 26-25, super rookie Angeline Poyos scored the last three points for the Tigresses to secure the win and complete UST’s sweep of the first round, winning the set, 28-26.
Poyos led UST with a triple-double, scoring 18 points and contributing 10 excellent receptions and 10 excellent digs. Jonna Perdido and Regina Jurado chipped in 16 and 12 points, respectively.
UST setter Cassie Carballo tallied 22 excellent sets to go along with five points.
Rochelle Lalongisip paced Adamson with 14 points, while Antonette Adolfo and Almonte scored 12 points apiece.
The league has yet to announce the schedule of the second round.
