UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas remained in the running for a playoff incentive with a 25-15, 26-24, 26-24 sweep of Ateneo in UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball on Saturday at Araneta Coliseum.
Just like their first-round encounter, the black-and-gold made short work of the blue-and-white in straight sets.
Down 22-24 in the second set, rookie middle blocker Marga Altea willed the Golden Tigresses' late rally right before Angge Poyos put the Blue Eagles away to cap a 4-0 set-clinching blitz.
Poyos scored seven of her 16 points in that Set 2 comeback alone, as Altea fired a total of 10 built on seven attacks and three blocks.
The same story unraveled in the third set, when the match drew level at 24-all, only to be sealed by back-to-back Poyos kills.
Reg Jurado had 10 markers and seven digs, as rookie winger Mabeth Hilongo posted eight points and 10 receptions.
UST is on a two-game win run for the first time since going five games unbeaten in the earlygoing of Round 1.
Since that streak, the reigning runners-up lost three in a row to the three teams ranked above them — National U, La Salle, and Far Eastern University.
At 7-4, the Golden Tigresses are now just half a game behind the second-ranked Lady Spikers (7-3) ahead of their final three matches of prelims play.
Ateneo's one tough flight
Losing its seventh match of the season sent Ateneo a step closer to elimination than survival.
While still in sixth-place at 4-7, the Blue Eagles’ three remaining matches are now virtual must-wins in order to outlast No. 5-ranked University of the Philippines (5-5) and No. 7 Adamson (3-7).
The midtable trio must also hope for losses to come FEU (6-4) and UST’s way to crack a much-needed opening for a Final Four spot.
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