UST Tigresses’ Angge Poyos.– UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–University of Santo Tomas didn’t disappoint a large throng clad in yellow and black that came over, crushing Ateneo to smithereens, 25-19, 25-16, 25-19, on Saturday at the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball.
Rookie spiker Angeline Poyos pummeled the other side of the floor with 21 attacks out of a career-high 26 points while Cassie Carballo tossed 18 excellent sets as the unbeaten Tigresses roared to their fifth straight win.
“We somehow relaxed in the third set, but I’m grateful that we were able to recover,” said Poyos, who also lit up the stat sheet with three aces and a pair of blocks.
SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball first round
Regina Jurado had 12 attacks and Bernadett Pepito helped weather Ateneo’s assault with 13 digs and nine receptions in UST’s best start since going 6-0 in the 2010-2011 season.
“There are more games to come, our aim is to reach the finals,” said Jurado after the Tigresses hurdled their toughest rivals in defending champion La Salle and Season 84 champion National University in previous matches.
Lyann De Guzman had 11 attacks apart from five digs and five receptions for the Blue Eagles, who plummeted to their fourth defeat in five games in a tie with University of the East.
Geezel Tsunashima’s crosscourt hit followed by a push pulled the Blue Eagles within, 17-23, and came closer courtesy of another Sophia Buena strike.
READ: UST’s ‘discipline, determination’ key to unbeaten start
But the back row attack of Zey Pacia had too much muscle, sailing way past the end line that rewarded the opening set to the Tigresses.
The narrative hardly altered in the second as the Tigresses zoomed ahead early and opened a 10-point advantage on Mary Joe Coronado’s two consecutive kills.
De Guzman hammered UST with another hit and Athena Abbu’s running attack didn’t connect, providing Ateneo a glimmer of hope.
But Xyla Gula and Poyos went on a scoring binge with a variety of hits to close out the second set for the Tigresses.
READ: UST rallies past FEU to stay unbeaten in UAAP women’s volleyball
“The instructions of the coaching staff were simple. Do the things that we trained for and we should be good,” said UST assistant coach Lerma Giron. “We were able to maintain the intensity, except in the third set.”
Carballo put the Tigresses in a position to quickly dispose of Ateneo in the third frame, efficiently setting up her teammates that translated into points.
Jurado’s cross pushed them ahead, 6-0, but the Blue Eagles came storming back through the efforts of Pacia and De Guzman, making a game out of it.
Back-to-back attacks by Jonna Perdido created the separation UST needed and Poyos ended the match with a smash off a combination play with Bianca Plaza.
Up next for the Tigresses are the floundering University of the Philippines Lady Maroons on Wednesday before ending the first round against the Adamson Lady Falcons next Saturday.