The UST Junior Golden Tigresses shook off a second-set setback to overcome the DLSZ Junior Lady Spikers, 25-15, 19-25, 26-24, 25-13, in Round 2 of the UAAP Season 88 girls’ volleyball tournament on Sunday, Nov. 16, at the Blue Eagle Gym.
With the win, the Junior Golden Tigresses improved to 6-4, bolstering their hold on the No. 3 seed, while the Junior Lady Spikers dropped to 5-5.
Kim Rubin scored a game-high 15 points, six of which came from aces, while Ryzel Laag and Nicole Pelaez added 12 and 11 markers, respectively.
“All in all, medyo unstable pa rin, especially sa second set, pero ang maganda naman na overcame nila ‘yong doubt nila sa sarili nila,” UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes told the Varsitarian. “Kasi ‘yong doubt, medyo mahirap gamutin, so ‘yon ang talagang ginagawan namin ng paraan at this moment.”
“Ang maganda naman, nag-react sila doon sa mga moment na they feel down… ‘yong pitpitan na labanan, especially sa third set, doon mo makikita na gano’n pa sila nag-focus sa game and paano sila naka-recover sa mga errors.”
The Junior Golden Tigresses raced to an early 17-9 lead in the first set following an Erin Sotto block. The Junior Lady Spikers trimmed the lead to 17-12, but a Zofia Limpoy service error sparked an 8-3 UST run to close the set, 25-15.
Down 16-11 in the second set, Pelaez sparked a 3-0 blitz to cut the deficit to 16-14. Zeianne Laborte then led a 9-5 run for DLSZ to even the match, 25-19.
In the third set, UST built a six-point lead, 17-11, off a Pelaez down-the-line kill before a drop ball from Aislinn Alemana fueled a 12-6 DLSZ run to level the frame at 23-all.
Two service errors — one from each team — extended the set, but a net infraction followed by a four-touch violation from DLSZ handed UST the set, 26-24.
Tied 7-7 in the fourth, a Rubin block and multiple DLSZ errors sparked an 18-6 run that powered the Junior Golden Tigresses to a 25-13 clincher.
Alemana paced DLSZ with 13 points, while Jelliane Laborte chipped in 10.
Next up for UST are the UPIS Fighting Maroons on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the Paco Arena.
