University of Santo Tomas whipped Ateneo through a straight-set win, 25-19, 25-23, 25-14, in the first round of the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday, March 15, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The Golden Tigresses finally got back at their Season 84 stepladder semifinal tormentor Blue Eagles to improve 4-2 in the standings.
Regina Jurado led the charge for UST with 15 points off 12 attacks and three aces, while veteran Eya Laure chipped in 10 in the swift victory.
Despite finishing with three players in double figures, Ateneo couldn’t limit its unforced errors and handed out a total of 25 throughout the match compared to UST’s 11.
The Golden Tigresses encountered a determined Blue Eagles who were putting up a gutsy fight in the second set, but Laure took it upon herself and ended it with a backrow kill to take a commanding two-set lead.
From then on, UST would run away with a 18-13 advantage in the third which was enough to get Ateneo off its back.
Vanie Gandler paced Ateneo with 13 points, while Lyann De Guzman and Faith Nisperos contributed 11 each as they absorbed a four-game losing streak for a 1-5 win-loss tally.