By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses clinched their first win of the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament after taking down the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws in just three sets, 25-16, 28-26, 25-21, last March 1, 2023.
After a comfortable first-set win, the Golden Tigresses found themselves in deep trouble after the Lady Tamaraws established a 21-17 lead in the following set.
FEU was poised to equalize the match at one set apiece after reaching the set point, 24-23, but UST showed tremendous composure and came up big in the clutch to complete the comeback with a 26-25 lead.
Just when UST thought they already got the second set in the bag, FEU’s Alyzza Devosora had other plans and tied things up at 26-all after a much-needed score.
It was then all UST in the next two offensive possessions as Renee Peñafiel and Cassy Carballo joined hands to put the Golden Tigresses ahead, 2-0.
The Lady Tamaraws attempted to salvage the game after going into a consistent scoring spree at the start of the third set but UST countered with their own offensive avalanche courtesy of their superstar spiker Eya Laure.
Laure took over midway through the third and final set after scoring in a variety of ways against the high-leaping FEU middle blockers.
The former outside hitter of the Philippine national team top-scored the Golden Tigresses with 17 points built from 14 successful attacks alongside two blocks and a service ace.
Backstopping the Queen Tigress are Jonna Perdido and Peñafiel who combined for 22 points, a much better showing than their loss against the DLSU Lady Spikers.
UST will look to make it two wins in a row on March 4, 2023, when they look to become the first team to rust the record of the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs.
