Far Eastern University fended off the gritty University of the East, 25-16, 18-25, 25-23, 25-16, in the second round of the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament Sunday, April 2, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Lady Tamaraws bounced back from their straight-set beating at the hands of the top seed De La Salle Lady Spikers to stay in the top four contention.
FEU shrugged off UE’s gallant effort in the second set before turning them back in the ensuing sets to improve 5-5 in the standings.
Chenie Tagaod delivered for FEU on both ends of the court with 20 points off 12 attacks, six blocks and two aces.
Jov Fernandez and Mitzi Panangin contributed 12 and 11, respectively.
The Lady Tamaraws relied on their huge defensive outing of 23 block points, the most from any team this season thus far, to make up for only 37 attacks compared to the Lady Warriors’ 50.
Following a tight third-set escape, FEU quickly raced to 10-3 advantage in the fourth set.
Despite the Lady Warriors’ continued efforts to close the gap on the Lady Tamaraws, they were already far ahead after a Fernandez combination play to stretch the lead by eight, 21-13.
Tin Ubaldo then sent FEU at the match point off a block on KC Cepada before Alyzza Devosora iced the match with a service ace.
UE couldn’t duplicate the similar breakthrough they had against FEU in the second round of Season 84 –– as it suffered 10 straight losses.
Ja Lana paced the Lady Warriors with 24 big points built on 21 attacks, a block and an ace, while Cepada added 12, in the losing effort.