THE UST Golden Tigresses suffered their second loss after succumbing to the FEU Lady Tamaraws in five sets, 19-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-20, 15-10, in the second round of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Saturday, April 13.
UST remained atop the standings with a 10-2 win-loss record, just one win ahead of the 9-1 DLSU Lady Spikers and 9-2 NU Lady Bulldogs. Meanwhile, FEU booked the last Final Four ticket after improving to a 7-4 slate.
Traling FEU by one in the opening salvo, 16-15, the Tigresses mounted a 10-3 run highlighted by five points from the returning Angeline Poyos, 25-19. Poyos missed UST’s previous game against UP on April 10 due to dehydration.
The Lady Tamaraws tied the game at one set apiece after a 25-19 victory in the second frame.
In the third frame, the Tigresses overcame a slow start and turned the tables with a 9-5 spurt to take a 2-1 lead.
FEU took advantage of a Poyos-less UST in the fourth set and went on a 7-2 run to extend the game to a fifth set, 25-20. Six of the last seven FEU points were unforced errors committed by the Tigresses.
Poyos continued to struggle due to dehydration, sitting out the majority of the fourth and fifth sets
After a 1-2 play by Cassie Carballo that sent the game to a 6-all deadlock, the Lady Tamaraws pulled away with a 9-4 run.
In her return, Poyos paced the Golden Tigresses with 20 points built on 14 attacks, four aces and two blocks, while Jurado and Jonna Perdido chipped in 15 and 12 points, respectively.
Faida Bakanke led FEU with 21 points on 15 attacks, four blocks and two aces, while Jean Asis contributed 16 markers.
The UST Golden Tigresses will next face the UE Lady Warriors on April 21, Sunday, 2 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
