Carlos says UP ‘got nervous’ amid UE rally

FILE PHOTO – University of the Philippines’ Diana Carlos attempts a spike against two UE blockers. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

University of the Philippines almost shot itself in the foot after its near collapse against University of the East in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday.

The Lady Maroons were firmly ahead two sets to none but everything went to the way side in the third and fourth periods when UP suddenly lost control of the game.

UP looked bamboozled in the third and fourth periods, where they committed majority of its 46 errors and the Lady Warriors took advantage to force a fifth set.

“We got nervous there,” said UP captain Diana Carlos in Filipino at Mall of Asia Arena. “Each of us had an area to cover but since we were nervous someone would go into another player’s spot.”

Although UP still emerged winners, 25-19, 25-13, 21-25, 16-25, 15-8, it was evident that the Lady Maroons walked on a tight rope in the third and fourth sets.

Four of UE’s last six points in the third set were off UP errors and a similar thing happened in the fourth when the Lady Maroons failed to figure out who would receive Judith Abil’s serve that eventually turned into an ace to force the decider.

Carlos said they were able to calm down during the break heading into the fifth set and that allowed them to close things out in the final period.

“We told ourselves to calm down and we did,” said Carlos, who had 22 points for UP.