wins Game 1 in UAAP finals

By Adrian Stewart Co

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) took Game 1 of the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball finals series with a 25-17, 25-16, 25-20 sweep last Saturday over Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Cherry Rondina led the win with 23 points on 20 attacks, two blocks, and a service ace; while Ejiya Laure contributed 11 markers, including nine attacks.

The straight set victory pushed UST closer to its first UAAP women’s volleyball title in eight years.

UST came out firing in the first two sets, jumping to identical 18-10 advantages in both frames, before preventing AdMU from gaining momentum.

AdMU gained control early in the third but UST went on a huge run to take a 16-11 edge.

Ateneo made their last push while down 21-20 but back-to-back hits from Rondina and two errors by AdMU’s Erika Raagas completed UST’s win.

The two meet again on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City./ASC, WDJ