Far Eastern University dealt defending champion University of Santo Tomas its first loss of the season with a 25-18, 27-25, 21-25, 26-24 win in the clash of powerhouses yesterday in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Blue Eagle Gym.
Maic Morada’s game-winning spike against Mary Jean Balse paved the way for the Lady Tamaraws to end the Tigresses amazing six-game winning run.
FEU’s victory forged a three-way tie for the lead alongside UST and Adamson, a 25-12, 25-20, 23-25, 25-12 winner over the hard-luck University of the East in the first game.
Rachel Daquis scored 15 of her 18 points from attacks as she continued her stellar show for FEU.
Morada added 17 markers while Wendy Semana chipped in 14 hits for the Lady Tamaraws.
It was a painful loss for the Tigresses as it posted a 23-19 edge courtesy of Angeli Tabaquero’s hit as they are all set to force a deciding fifth set.
But FEU limited UST to a solitary point, thanks to their suffocating floor defense.
Libero Rose Ann Taganas also shone for the Lady Tamaraws with her impressive saves which rattled the Tigresses offense.
Reigning MVP Venus Bernal had 18 points while Tabaquero and Ging Balse added 15 hits apiece for UST.
Angela Benting scored 16 of her game-high 19 points from attacks while Michelle Segodine and Sang Laguilles added 12 and 11 hits, respectively, for the Lady Falcons, who won six straight after dropping their season opener to the Tigresses.
April Soriano chipped in 11 markers while Kat Rivera and Cristel Rosale combined for 14 points for the Red Skirts, who are winless in seven outings.
Meanwhile, La Salle snapped its four-game losing skid by drubbing National University, 25-18, 25-21, 25-18.
Jackie Alarca banged in 13 points, 10 from attacks, while Stepahanie Mercado and Carla Llaguno added 11 markers apiece for the Lady Archers, who will enter the second round in fifth with a 3-4 record.
Jennifer Cardoniga led the Lady Bulldogs (2-5) with 18 hits, while Marly Castro added seven points.