DESPITE COURAGEOUS efforts, the Ateneo Women’s Volleyball Team (AWVT) fell to the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses in a tightly-contested five-set match, 15-25, 25-27, 25-23, 28-26, 13-15. The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 second-round matchup was held earlier today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
With today’s loss, the Blue Eagles drop to a 2-6 win-loss record, placing them at sixth in the Women’s tournament standings.
Veteran Lyann De Guzman led the Blue Eagles with 22 points, followed by Zel Tsunashima and Sophia Buena with 21 markers each. Team Captain Roma Mae Doromal stood out as well, collecting 22 excellent digs and 25 excellent receptions. Meanwhile, the first-seeded Golden Tigresses banked on Angge Poyos’s 22 points to spearhead their winning effort.
In the opening set, a slow start on receiving efforts for the Blue Eagles paved the way for UST’s Poyos and Regina Jurado to dominate early and put Ateneo in a seven-point hole, 3-10. As the set went on, Ateneo’s De Guzman and Buena picked up the offensive load for the Blue and White, with the latter’s cross-court kill preventing the UST lead from growing, 10-17.
Despite efforts to spark a run, Ateneo was significantly hindered by UST’s defense as the Blue Eagles gave up five block points in the first set alone. On the defensive end, Ateneo’s struggles continued in the closing sequences, as they were not able to contain Bianca Plaza, Margaret Banagua, and Poyos, eventually yielding the set, 15-25.
In response to their lackluster first set, Ateneo greatly improved their receiving and digging, leading to a highly competitive second set that saw no team lead by more than four points. Ateneo’s offense also shone through, garnering 19 attack points in the set.
Opening proceedings for the Blue Eagles, a Zel Tsunashima cross-court attack and De Guzman kill gave Ateneo a three point lead, 4-1. The Golden Tigresses would not stay down as a 7-5 run led by Banagua kept them in the set, cutting the Ateneo lead to one, 9-8. In the late stages of the canto, Ateneo took hold of a 22-18 lead after a Buena kill and multiple UST errors. However, Ateneo’s cushion crumbled, giving up a 9-3 run and the set, 25-27.
With their backs against the wall going into a 1-5 hole to start the third set, Ateneo jumped to a 6-2 run of their own with a Buena block point tying up the score, 7-7. Heading into another close late-game situation, the Blue Eagles staged a clutch run, outscoring UST 6-2 in the final stretch of the third frame to claim their first set point, 25-23.
The fourth canto continued to be a slugfest as both squads traded blows throughout the set. Showing another display of resilience, Ateneo recovered from a 14-17 deficit by going on a 5-1 run to take the lead, 19-18. Buena, De Guzman and AC Miner showed out on the attacking side, eventually carrying the Blue Eagles to the 28-26 set victory.
Both teams entered the do-or-die final set with the same intensity as the last two strophes. The collective effort from Yvana Sulit, Buena, Tsunashima and De Guzman kept the Blue Eagles in the set, eventually entering another late deadlock, 13-13. However, Ateneo was engulfed by Jurado, Poyos, Cassie Carballo’s attacks, shifting the momentum over to UST. A final Joanna Perdido conversion dealt Ateneo the set loss, 13-15.
Looking to capture their third victory, the Blue and White will take on the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons this Sunday, March 24, at 2:00 PM. The contest will take place at the same venue.
Box Scores:
Ateneo (2): De Guzman – 22, Tsunashima – 21, Buena – 21, Sulit – 12, Miner – 4
UST (3): Poyos – 22, Jurado – 19, Perdido – 17, Carballo – 10, Banagua – 7, Abbu – 4, Penafiel – 4, Plaza – 3, Gula -1
Set scores: 15-25, 25-27, 25-23, 28-26, 13-15
Standings (W-L):
- UST Golden Tigresses (8-0)
- DLSU Lady Spikers (6-1)
- NU Lady Bulldogs (6-2)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (4-3)
- AdU Lady Falcons (2-5)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (2-6)
- UE Lady Red Warriors (1-6)
- UP Fighting Maroons (1-7)
