UPSET alert!
The University of the Philippines just put the ‘UP’ in upset with a four-set stunner over Far Eastern University, 23-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-23, in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday.
This becomes the Fighting Maroons’ first win against the Lady Tamaraws in two years, dating back to Season 84 in 2022 when the Diliman side completed a prelims sweep of the ladies from Morayta.
It was also in Season 84 when the maroon-and-green last won its first two elimination round games. It went on to win five games to finish in sixth-place before going on back-to-back one-win campaigns.
With win No. 2 in as many games, State U has also surpassed its win total in each of Seasons 85 and 86.
UP and at 'em
Mainstays Joan Monares and Irah Jaboneta willed UP to victory with a 19-point, eight-dig outing and a near triple-double of 11 points, 12 digs, and seven receptions, respectively.
Former UAAP juniors MVP Kianne Olango showed just why she’s among the rookies to watch out for this season by dropping 16 points on 13 attacks and three blocks, all against an FEU side coming off a big-time triumph over University of Santo Tomas.
All in all, the Maroons' fight in the net proved vital to their winning cause, as they posted a season-best 10 blocks, with team captain Niña Ytang getting the lion’s share with four net rejections.
This winning feeling's something that Ytang & Co. will take some time getting used to and one they'll definitely want more of.
"Hindi naman po siya naging mahirap sa amin kasi may isa po kaming goal [...] na maibigay po yung best namin sa lahat ng game. May mga bagong players kasi parang gusto din nila makatulong sa team," the UP skipper said.
"Sobra pong nakakatuwa sa puso na start pa lang po, nagsisimula na po kaming manalo. Susubukan po naming ibigay yung best namin all throughout the season."
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