The University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses overpowered the University of the East Lady Warriors, 25-19, 25,16, 25-15, to secure their third straight win and close in on a final four berth in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament on Saturday, April 12, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Kyla Cordora was UST’s key player, tallying eight points on eight attacks, along with seven excellent digs and six excellent receptions.

Reg Jurado and Angge Poyos also stepped up for the Golden Tigresses, contributing 10 and 12 markers in the winning effort, respectively.

The Golden Tigresses started off hot, establishing an 8-4 cushion through Jurado, Poyos, and Pia Abbu.

Back-to-back errors from Cordora and Poyos, followed by a service ace from Riza Nogales helped UE cut the lead to one, 9-8.

Poyos turned in four consecutive hits late in the opening set to pad their lead to eight, 22-14.

The España-based squad committed several errors to give the Lady Warriors a chance to score five more points but a crucial service error from Roan Enriquez gave UST the first set, 25-19.

UST got their bearings working in the second frame and played like a well-oiled machine as they established an early 11-5 advantage courtesy of Cassie Carballo, Jurado, and Poyos.

The Golden Tigresses kept their winning momentum from start to finish as Ashley Knop fired up three straight attacks to seal the second set for UST, 25-16.

The Lady Warriors failed to adjust in the third salvo as UST’s offense continued to pounce freely at the struggling Lady Warriors.

Three straight conversions from Poyos halfway through the set helped UST secure a 16-8 edge.

UST continued to impose their dominance over UE as Knop and Margaret Altea provided the knockout blow for the España-based squad followed by a service error from Van Bangayan, 25-15.

“Well, I'm very happy po kasi, nabigay namin yung best namin and yung gusto namin makita, yung pinaghirapan namin sa training, nakita talaga namin this game. So, hopefully, madala namin yung momentum na ito sa next game, since ang next game namin is UP,” UST team captain Detdet Pepito said.

“So, yun nga po yung sabi sa akin ng coaches, magandang pag-practice namin yung UE para sa mga susunod namin na game. So, talagang bigay namin yung best namin sa trainings. And, ayun, nabunga naman. So, thank you, Lord and thank you, coaches,” she added.

Khy Cepeda and Bangayan were limited to only four and six points in the losing effort, respectively.

The Golden Tigresses will automatically enter the Final Four shall the De La Salle Lady Spikers triumph over the UP Fighting Maroons Sunday, April 13, in the same venue.

They will have to beat the Fighting Maroons to should the Lady Spikers lose, the two teams will clash after the holy week break on Wednesday, April 23, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.