The University Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses trounced the University of the East Lady Warriors in four sets, 28-26, 22-25, 25-23, 25-15, in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament on Feb. 22, Saturday, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Angge Poyos was hailed player of the game, recording 21 points built on 14 attacks, four blocks, and three service aces, while Reg Jurado tallied 22 points on 18 attacks, two blocks, and two aces.

The opening set was a high-wire battle as both teams traded attacks like punches in a heavyweight bout.

The Lady Warriors secured set point and their biggest lead late in the first frame through Nessa Bangayan’s attack and a successful block touch challenge, 24-20.

Blessing Unekwe and Poyos crunched in much needed points to even the set at 24 apiece while a service error by UE’s Kesha Famulagan followed by a block from Pia Abbu turned the tables around for UST during the opening set, 28-26.

The second salvo saw Jurado turn in four-straight markers to tie the game at 21-all until Khy Cepada and Riza Nogales then ignited a 4-1 rally to secure the second set, 22-25.

Kyla Cordora went down with a twisted ankle during the final moments of the second canto with updates regarding her injury and condition still unsure as of publishing.

UST unleashed a 7-2 blitz in the third set propelled by Margaret Altea, Abbu, Jurado, and Poyos, keeping their momentum running to extend the lead to seven, 16-9.

The Tigresses took a one-set lead once again as Jurado and Poyos pumped in two consecutive kills to get the upper hand despite a gutsy rally from the Recto-based squad, 25-23.

UST blitzed the Lady Warriors to open the fourth set, as they established a 10-3 lead. But the Lady Warriors responded with a 7-1 run through the offensive prowess of Mary Ecalla, Famulagan, Bangayan, and Cepada to cut the lead to one, 11-10.

From there, the España-based squad continued to run like a well-oiled machine as they recorded a 14-5 blitz to get their names on the win column, 25-15.

“A win is a win naman. Nakita namin yung mga lapses pa rin, we will work on it at matanggal yung lapses na ‘yon… Maraming lapses na kailangan i-polish para sa Wednesday game [against La Salle], makaporma kami sa kanila,” said UST assistant coach Yani Fernandez

Cepada led the scoring department of UE with 20 points off 16 attacks and four aces, while Beatrice Zamudio and Ecalla contributed 11 points and 12 excellent sets.

The UST Golden Tigresses will now prepare for a heavy final four rematch against the De La Salle University Lady Spikers on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.