Tigresses finish off Lady Warriors to end first round tilt
By Rob Andrew Dongiapon
Storming back after a first-set meltdown, the UST Golden Tigresses capped off the first round with a four-set victory over the UE Lady Warriors, 30–32, 25–18, 25–16, 25–14, in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan, Saturday afternoon.
The Tigresses were well on their way to a breezing rout after leading 7–0 and 15–6 in the first set. Coach Kungfu Reyes then decided to bring in the power from the UST bench.
However, the Lady Warriors took this opportunity and turned it into a feisty duel, diffusing a 17–6 bomb on their way to stretching the canto towards five set points before snagging the extended opening salvo, 32–30.
Errors proved to be the deciding factor in the first set as the Tigresses coughed up 13 miscues, only two more than the Lady Warriors’ 11.
It was all UST from thereon, however, making up their early mistakes to neutralize UE’s newfound momentum and belief to dominate the rest of the way.
Eya Laure led the Tigresses with 18 points off 14 attacks and three blocks, while Regina Jurado added 13 on 10 attacks for UST.
Meanwhile, Milena Alessandrini also contributed 12 points together with Imee Hernandez’s 10 as the Golden Tigresses finished the first round on a 5–2 slate.
On the other hand, the loss put UE at 0–7, losing all of their games in the first round.
The Lady Warriors were anchored by Janine Lana with 13 points, while KC Cepada and Vanessa Bangayan backed her up with 12 and 11, respectively.
