Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
After Ateneo lost talisman Alyssa Valdez to graduation, the Lady Eagles immediately went to work and dismantled University of Santo Tomas, 25-20, 25-21, 25-22, in their opening match in the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament.
Numbers didn’t show any noticeable gap between the two and the Golden Tigresses actually outscored Ateneo, 34-32, in spikes, but it was the intangibles that led to UST’s downfall.
“We lacked communication inside the court,” said EJ Laure Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “It looked like there wasn’t any leadership on the floor.”
“I think no one wanted to initiate any communication when we played.”
Laure added the team dwelled in their frustrations when things went south for them especially in the latter part of the third set.
There were episodes in the third period where UST would take a two-point lead but would eventually lose it to Ateneo.
“I think we focused too much on our mistakes, and I think we became frustrated because of that,” said Laure.