UP rallies to take five-setter over UE in UAAP volleyball opener

UP Lady Maroons take opening game win. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—University of the Philippines weathered the storm and took a tough 25-12, 22-25, 23-25, 25-19, 15-12 win over University of the East in the opening game of the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament Saturday at Filoil Flying V Center.

After starting out strong, the Lady Maroons allowed the Lady Warriors to gain steam and pull ahead 2-1 but recovered just in time in the fourth to force a deciding set.

With an early back-and-forth at the start of the fifth set, Jessma Ramos and Isa Molde exchanged hits for a three-point lead with Isa Molde putting UP ahead 10-7 with a powerful kill.

Molde then had an emphatic kill when she sent her attack straight to the face of Zilfa Olarve for UP’s 12-9 buffer.

UP head coach Godfrey Okumu said he had to remind his players to stay in their system and not lose focus on the task at hand, which was what happened in the second and third sets.

“As usual we talked about forgetting and going in strong and also staying focused,” said Okumu. “Our defense was up to standard. And when we focus we play well.”

Okumu, however, tackled the team’s carelessness with UP giving away 42 points due to errors, a seven-point differential with UE’s 35.

“We had many unforced errors and we should correct that.”

Molde finished with 23 points to lead the Lady Maroons while Diana Carlos and Justine Dorog had 17 points and 12 points, respectively.

Judith Abil led UE with 20 points.

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