National University locked the top seed with a 25-15, 25-10, 25-15 routing of University of the Philippines while University of Santo Tomas bounced back with a 25-23, 23-25, 25-15, 25-12 win against Far Eastern University in the UAAP Season 84 women's volleyball tournament on Saturday, June 4 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Michaela Belen hammered down 16 points on top of eight spikes and eight service aces while Sheena Toring posted eight attacks, two service aces, and one block for 11 markers as the Lady Bulldogs remained unscathed with a 12-0 record.
Belen's mark on the service line tied former Ateneo standout Dzi Gervacio's UAAP record in a single match while Alyssa Solomon and Ivy Lacsina also chipped in eight points apiece for NU.
"Medyo nakabawi kami from last game na meltdown namin. Ang mahalaga kasi ngayon at this point sa amin na patapos na 'yong elimination, nagge-gain kami ng confidence going to Final Four o ano man mangyari ahead of winning the game," said Lady Bulldogs head coach Karl Dimaculangan.
NU is just two games away from an outright Finals berth as its 12-0 slate can no longer be achieved by either second-seeded De La Salle or third-ranked UST.
After cruising past the first two sets, the Lady Bulldogs easily reached match point coming from an eight-point advantage before Lady Maroon Steph Bustrillo gave the game-winning point away off an attack error.
Bustrillo had nine points for UP, which slipped to a 5-7 record, as no Lady Maroons reached double-digits.
In the second game, Eya Laure returned to his usual fiery form while Ypril Tapia shone bright as the Golden Tigresses improved to an 8-4 record.
Laure fired 19 points off 18 attacks and one service ace, Tapia scored 16 markers built on 14 spikes, and Camille Victoria added 11 points for UST.
The Lady Tamaraws equalized the match with a second-set win before Laure and Tapia connived in the next two frames to provide the spark for the Tigresses.
UST heaved a sigh of relief after reaching second technical timeout in the fourth frame with a 16-7 cushion.
The lead stretched by as many as 13, 23-10, capped by Laure's through-the-block hit before Tapia won the joust in the last play for the win.
Shiela Kiseo paced the Lady Tamaraws, who fell to a 1-11 record, with 11 points while Chen Tagaod and Jovelyn Fernandez contributed 10 points apiece.