By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Junior Tigresses stunned the National University (NU)-Nazareth School Lady Bullpups, 25-23, 25-14, 25-20, to notch its first win in the UAAP Season 86 girls’ high school volleyball at the Adamson University Gym on Saturday, November 18.

Negrenses Kimberly Rubin and Ysabelle Chua were at the forefront of attack for the Junior Tigresses as they bounced back from their opening day defeat to improve to a 1-1 slate.

Both teams went point-for-point at the start of the third set until the Lady Bullpups fired four consecutive points to stretch their lead to 8-4. The Junior Tigresses clawed their way back to tie things up at 13.

It was a back-and-forth affair once again before the Junior Tigresses unleashed eight straight points capped off by an attack from Abigail Sinson that sent them to match point at 24-17.

The defending champion Lady Bullpups stayed alive after saving three match points, but a costly attack error from Kianne Olango secured the victory for the Junior Tigresses.

“We just played our game and syempre masaya manalo. First win against NU, and sobrang dami pang laro. And, at least, kung ano ‘yung na-ensayo namin, na-execute naman namin kahit papano,” UST head coach Emilio Reyes said.

Meanwhile, the Far Eastern University-Diliman (FEU-D) Baby Tamaraws continued their boys’ high school volleyball title defense bid with a 25-22, 25-19, 25-20 romp over the UST Junior Spikers.

It was a tight third frame with neither team able to mount a scoring run of over four points early in the set, with the Baby Tamaraws clinging to a slim 15-14 advantage before they unloaded five straight points to create separation.

An attack from Kyle Tandoc put Baby Tamaraws at match point before the Junior Spikers scored off of back-to-back errors from the Baby Tamaraws.

A kill by Amet Bituin sealed the win for FEU-D, 25-20.

The Baby Tamaraws of Ilonggo head coach Rjay del Rosario improved its record to a 2-1 win-loss slate, while UST slid to a 1-2 record./ASC, WDJ