University of Santo Tomas is bringing the hard lessons it learned from its tough loss against National University at the end of the first round of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament last weekend.

Despite reeling from a 23-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-18, 15-9 loss to the Lady Bulldogs that put them at 5-2 at third place, Golden Tigresses assistant coach Yani Fernandez said they still remained motivated and optimistic as they gear up for the crucial second-round hostilities that begins over the weekend.

“Lesson learned again sa side namin, na iche-check ulit yung rotation at diskartehan sa mga susunod na ensayo,” Fernandez said.

Against the defending champions, UST started strong by seizing a 2-1 set lead, but ran out of gas after NU, headed by veteran duo Alyssa Solomon and Bella Belen, found ways to regroup and neutralize the Tigresses’ top spikers Angge Poyos and Regina Jurado.

“The first and the third set are all good. Yun talaga yung inensayo namin saka inaral namin,” said Fernandez.

“Pero yung two, four and five -- especially sa fifth set -- ayun yung sinasabi namin na hindi pwedeng ganun ulit sa mga susunod na matches namin,” she added.

In that pivotal fifth frame, the Tigresses only scored nine points -- four coming from Jurado and five courtesy of NU’s errors.

“Hindi namin na-maximize yung mga spikers namin... credits kay NU ganda ng tactical serve nila,” said Fernandez.

The defeat served as an eye-opener for UST as it aims to adjust for the remaining seven matches.

“Marami pang (kailangang) i-polish lalo na sa in-game adjustment ng NU, yun yung hindi namin nakuha kaagad,” said setter Cassie Carballo, who finished with 27 excellent sets on top of 10 points.

Though entering the second round from a loss, UST is proud of its achievements so far especially after losing key players Xyza Gula and Jonna Perdido to injuries before the start of the season.

“Unexpected na ganito yung magiging record namin kahit na medyo pangit yung pinakita namin nun first game. Naging maganda naman, and naging sukatan yung first round kung hanggang saan yung kaya pa namin,” said UST libero and skipper Detdet Pepito.

UST opens the second round with a game against Far Eastern University on Sunday, March 23, at the Mall of Asia Arena.