By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE University of the Philippines (UP) broke from a chain losses yesterday, defeating the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses in four sets, 33-31, 25-23, 25-16 and 25-12, in their UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball encounter to get back in the win column.

Losers of their last four matches in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) entering the contest, the Lady Maroons fought their way from the sting of a tough first-set loss to wind up on top of the Tigresses and notch their second victory in six matches with one game left in their first-round card.

Capitalizing on the service errors of the Lady Maroons, the Tigresses raced to a 16-8 advantage in the opening frame.

UP though would eventually find its rhythm, going on a 16-8 run after to level the count at 24-all and extend the set.

The Lady Maroons had every chance to pull the rug from under the Tigresses, in set point six times, but just could not complete the task to fall one set behind.

In the second set the two teams had it cutthroat at the start with UST holding a slim 8-7 lead by the first technical knockout.

With Tots Carlos clicking in her attack and the team picking up its defense, the Lady Maroons overtook their opponents and went first to the second technical break, 16-13.

UST though did not go down quietly as it rallied back to come within one point, 24-23.

But unlike in the opening set, UP would see its cause through with a block from Ariel Estranero to level the score at one set apiece.

The Lady Maroons fell behind early to begin the third frame before making a sprint, led by Isa Molde and Carlos, to go up by four points, 16-12, halfway into the set.

UP then built on the momentum of the turnaround, outscoring UST, 9-4, the rest of the way to go up, 2-1.

With their motor humming, the Lady Maroons did not relent on the pounding to start the fourth set.

They went on to race to an 8-4 advantage, extending it to 16-7 by the second technical timeout.

League leading scorer Sisi Rondina tried to rally the Tigeresses back but they would not get much headway as the Lady Maroons stood firm on their way to the win.

Carlos led UP with 32 big points, 27 off attacks, three blocks and two service aces.

Molde, meanwhile, added 24 points.

For UST it was Rondina who topscored with 23 points with Christine Francisco and Dimdim Pacres adding 12 and 10, respectively.

“UST is an aggressive team and to beat them you have to play defense which I think we did today and why we are talking to you right now,” said UP coach Gody Okumu in the postgame press conference.

“We’re still a growing team and we hope the fans would continue to support us because we need them,” he added.

UP closes its first-round assignment versus the National University Lady Bulldogs on Sunday, March 4, while UST finishes its opening-round run against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws on Saturday, March 3.

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