The University of Santo Tomas (UST) improved their chances at a “Final 4” berth following their 27-25, 25-17, 21-25, 25-16 win over National University (NU) in the 81st UAAP women’s volleyball season over the weekend at the San Juan Arena.

Cherry Rondina spearheaded the attack for UST with 21 points, all of which were attack points.

UST got off to a flat start in the opening set and had to rally before turning to clutch conversions from Rondina and rookie Kecelyn Galdones.

In the following set, however, they made a quick work of NU as they built a 17-9 lead en route to a 2-0 set edge.

UST were unable to get the job done in the third after NU surged to a 17-12 lead and extending the match to another set.

The eventual winners showed their fangs in the fourth with Rondina, Galdonez, and Ejiya Laure combining for a 23-15 advantage and ending NU’s hopes for a graceful exit.

In the other match, Adamson University pulled off a 25-20, 25-23, 25-19 win over the University of the Philippines./ASC, WDJ