By Adrian Stewart Co

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) women’s volleyball team boosted their “Final 4” hopes after a 25-21, 25-12, 26-24 pounding of the University of the Philippines (UP) in the 81st UAAP women’s volleyball season last Wednesday at the San Juan Arena.

Cherry Rondina led the win with 20 points, while rookie Ejiya Laure added 11.

UP led for most of the first set until UST pulled to a 17-16 edge; the team then went on to take the first set with Rondina and Laure anchoring offense.

UST continued its run in the second with an 11-4 start on attacks from Rondina and Mary Dominique Pacres. The lead later expanded to 20-8 on service aces by Kecelyn Galdonez.

UP tried staying alive in the third set after reaching set point at 24-22. However, three straights errors from UP gave UST the 25-24 edge before Laure ended the match with a block./ASC, WDJ