FEU extends UE's volleyball woes

c/o UAAP Media team

UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Standings

Team W-L

NU 8-1

FEU 6-3

UST 5-3  

DLSU 5-3

UP 4-5

AdU 3-5

Ateneo 3-5

UE 0-9

Games on Saturday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum

9 a.m. – DLSU vs UST (Men)

11 a.m. – Ateneo vs AdU (Men)

1 p.m. – Ateneo vs AdU (Women)

5 p.m. – DLSU vs UST (Women)

Far Eastern University showcased its depth and composure, sweeping the University of the East, 25-20, 25-20, 25-23, to claim the provisional second spot in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Wednesday night.

The Lady Tamaraws improved to 6-3, securing solo second place, just two games behind the NU Lady Bulldogs (8-1), who suffered their first loss earlier in the day against the UP Fighting Maroons.

Idle teams De La Salle University and the University of Santo Tomas are close behind at 5-3, currently in third and fourth place. They will face off on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Coach Tina Salak expressed her respect for the Lady Warriors, who challenged them in the second and third sets.

“Expected naman na lalaban ang UE kasi hindi naman nababago ang spirit ng UE pagdating sa games. Eventually, nagkakaroon naman kami ng adjustments, nakakasunod naman ang players. Sa game, nakuha naman namin yung gusto naming win but syempre may opportunities pa rin na namimiss namin,” said FEU head coach Tina Salak.

("We expected UE to put up a fight because their competitive spirit never wavers during games. Eventually, we made the necessary adjustments, and the players kept up. We achieved the win we wanted, but of course, there were still opportunities we missed.")

Similar to the second set, the Lady Warriors started strong in the third, building a 13-8 lead. However, FEU’s depth and composure allowed them to regain control, closing out the match in straight sets after 94 minutes.

UE was within striking distance at 19-21 in the second set, but Jazlyn Ellarina delivered three of FEU’s final four points to secure the 25-20 win.

In the third set, Khy Cepada and Van Bangayan continued to fight for the Lady Warriors, tying the score at 23. However, Gerzel Petallo and Chenie Tagaod responded with back-to-back kills to seal the victory for FEU.

"Ako po kasi since day one tiwala talaga sa sistema kasi laging sinasabi ni coach na kapag gumawa ka ng sarili mong diskarte na wala sa sistema, mawawala ka eh. So ibinabalik lang namin yung sarili namin sa pinagensayuhan namin and everything will follow,” said Ellarina, who led the game with 17 points on 12 attacks, three aces, and two blocks.

(“Since day one, I have trusted our system because coach always reminds us that if we deviate from it and try to improvise on our own, we’ll lose our rhythm. So we just stick to what we’ve practiced, and everything follows.")

Petallo and Tagaod contributed 15 points each, with Petallo adding 15 digs and eight receptions, while Tagaod recorded 11 receptions.

Rookie setter Karyll Miranda also played a key role, tallying 17 excellent sets off the bench.

FEU will next face a stunned NU squad on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Meanwhile, UE remains winless after nine outings and is now on the brink of elimination. The Lady Warriors will take on a surging UP team on Sunday at the Big Dome.

Cepada finished with 13 points, 11 digs, and eight receptions, while Bangayan contributed 10 points.

Lone libero Angelica Reyes also recorded 17 excellent digs and nine excellent receptions.