THE ATENEO Blue Eagles extended their losing streak to four as they succumbed to the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses in three sets, 19-25, 23-25, 14-25. The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Women’s Volleyball Tournament match was held earlier today in the Fil-Oil EcoOil Centre in the City of San Juan.
The reliable duo of Faith Nisperos and Vanie Gandler got to serious work early in the first set with the latter already scoring six points in the first ten minutes of the game. The UST Golden Tigresses still managed to keep their lead but Ateneo’s enhanced floor coverage was crucial in managing the bleeding. As UST took the set at 19-25, the Blue Eagles were already preparing to establish stable momentum moving onto the next set.
Similar to the beginning of the first set, the teams battled neck-and-neck as the score reached several deadlocks since the start of the second canto. Despite staying close to UST in scoring, Ateneo’s nine errors compared to UST’s three slowed down their momentum, 18-19. Co-captains Nisperos and Gandler remained consistent in attacking, but their efforts still fell short as UST closed the set at 23-25.
Ateneo’s opponents from España dominated the third set early with a towering 7-1 run against the squad from Katipunan, putting Ateneo at a 5-11 deficit. Entering the game for the first time, Ateneo’s promising rookie Geezel Tsunashima also made her presence felt in Set 3 as she scored from the wing, 8-13.
Refusing to back down, Nisperos’ attacking power allowed the Blue Eagles to reduce UST’s lead to two, 12-14. However, the Golden Tigresses moved forward with full force and did not hesitate to win the match with a double-digit lead, 14-25.
Carrying four straight losses on their shoulders, the Blue Eagles are still in constant search for their second win of the season as they face the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, on March 19, Sunday at Fil-Oil EcoOil Centre in the City of San Juan.
Box scores:
Ateneo: Gandler – 13, Nisperos – 11, De Guzman – 11, Miner – 6, Narit – 2, Tsunashima – 1, Sulit – 1
UST: Jurado – 15, Laure – 10, Hernandez – 9, Galdones – 7, Alessandrini – 6, Perdido – 3
Set scores:
19-25, 23-25, 14-25
