UST snaps NU’s 20-game winning run

By NIKOLE JAVIER

University of Santo Tomas overcame National University’s comeback to hack out a 25-23, 27-25, 17-25, 22-25, 15-11 victory in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Saturday, March 4, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Golden Tigresses refused to let the Lady Bulldogs stomp all over them in the decider and improved 2-1 in the standings at the expense of the reigning champion’s 20-game winning run.

Interestingly, prior to NU’s five-setter win over Adamson last March 1, it was actually against UST that it played its last marathon match way back on March 4, 2020.

The Golden Tigresses were also reeling from their opening loss to the De La Salle Lady Spikers last Feb. 26 which ended in an anti-climatic showdown.

UST came out on top in the tight affair in the first two sets but couldn’t make it a straight-set victory when NU found its rhythm in the next two.

After being dragged to a sudden death, the Golden Tigresses shrugged off the Lady Bulldogs’ early 5-2 start with a 3-0 run of their own to bring themselves to the first deadlock of the fifth set.

However, it would be the last time NU would come within striking distance of UST, which would go on a blistering 6-1 run to extend its lead by five, 12-7.

In NU’s attempt at a fightback, three match points will be saved which would not be enough as Laure would come through with a huge block point on Alyssa Solomon to come away with the victory.