The UP Lady Maroons outlasted the UE Lady Warriors in a five-set thriller, 25-12, 22-25, 23-25, 25-19, 15-12, to open their UAAP Season 81 women's volleyball campaign on a winning note Saturday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
The gritty Lady Warriors tried to spoil UP's dominant start by stealing the second and third sets, but the Lady Maroons recovered in the final stretch to bag the victory.
The killer duo of Isa Molde and Tots Carlos led the attack for UP. Carlos finished with 23 points built on 19 spikes, two blocks, and two aces, while Carlos added 17 points highlighted by 15 spikes. Veteran playmaker Ayel Estrañero distributed the ball well and tallied 44 excellent sets.
Carlos and Molde came out firing in the opener, aided by Justine Dorog and Marist Layug, to give the Lady Maroons as high as a 13-point lead at 22-9. The Lady Warriors strung together three straight points but UP responded with its own 3-0 run to close out the set.
UE capitalized on the Lady Maroons' multiple miscues to bounce back in the second period and mount a 23-18 edge. The two teams traded errors, which allowed UP to inch closer, but Judith Abil delivered the finishing blow to knot the match at one set apiece.
The third frame was a game of alternate runs that boiled down to the last few rallies. Abil and Carlos exchanged service errors for a 23-all deadlock, then Mariella Gabarda sent UE to set point with a kill. From being down by as many as seven points, the Lady Warriors took the set off an attack error from Layug.
The Lady Maroons raced to a 10-1 start in Set 4 but just like in the previous sets, UE refused to give up. The Lady Warriors inched within two points before Carlos sparked UP's breakaway that extended the match to a deciding set.
Justine Dorog towed the Lady Maroons to an 8-6 edge in the final period. Molde and Carlos took over to push back UE's comeback attempts, paving the way for Dorog and Jessma Ramos to seal the win.
Abil paced the Lady Warriors with 17 spikes, two aces, and a block for 20 points alongside 21 receptions. Kath Arado manned the floor with 32 digs and 18 receptions.
FEU tops NU
In the second game, the Lady Tamaraws bounced back from a first set collapse to beat the NU Lady Bulldogs, 22-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-12, in their debut match in the UAAP Season 81 women's volleyball tournament Saturday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
Rookie Lycha Ebon immediately made an impact, firing 13 points off nine spikes and four aces. Celine Domingo and Heather Guino-o delivered 11 points apiece, while skipper Jerrili Malabanan contributed 10 points.
NU's young talents were unfazed by the bright lights of the collegiate stage as they launched an 11-1 closing rally in the opening frame to tow the Lady Bulldogs to a win over a much more experienced FEU squad.
The Lady Tamaraws, last season's first runner-up, quickly recovered and displayed their veteran form in the ensuing sets, closing out the match with a commanding 13-point victory in the fourth period.
FEU capitalized on the absence of NU's promising rookie setter Joyme Cagande, who had been playing well until she suffered a ligament sprain in her left knee late in the third set.
With no other setter available, Kylmince Orillaneda stepped up to the challenge of being the team's playmaker the rest of the way.
The Lady Tamaraws launched 16 service aces against only 8 of NU. They also took advantage of their opponents' 35 errors.
Ivy Lacsina topped for the Lady Bulldogs with 14 points, while Princess Robles added 13 points.