UAAP volleyball: FEU rips UP, solidifies playoff bid

It was just a matter of getting one more win for FEU to potentially slide into the top four, and win they did.

 

Wenneth Eulalio scored 13 points on 13 attacks to lead the FEU Lady Tamaraws over the underwhelming UP Maroons, who have yet to find their first win, Sunday, at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan, in the 74th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.

 

UP started the set on a light note, playing with a free-for-all offense that threw FEU’s defense off their feet. Although FEU led 5-1 after a spike by Eulalio, UP immediately caught up early, making it a lock at 5-5. 

 

The lead would then ricochet between both teams, giving the set a total of 14 deadlocks before a Joyce Palad service error and a Eulalio spike distanced FEU for good, 26-24.

 

The Lady Maroons continued to give FEU fits on defense though, as Jezza Lasmarias countered FEU’s points early. Service errors marred the set, leveling the playing field at 8-8 until FEU made a 6-0 run that gave them a lofty lead. Although Angeli Araneta and Pauline Genido would score for UP, they weren’t able to find answers for FEU’s earlier spurt. 

 

Mayjorie Roxas emerged for FEU, making timely blocks and tips to answer every point made by UP. A spike from a weird angle by Mary Rose Baniel closed out the set at 25-19.

 

The gangly Roxas continued her strong play heading into the third, even as UP Coach Jarod Hubalde sent marquee player South Ramos to stop the bleeding. UP was at a loss while FEU countered every point that UP put up. The Lady Tams built a solid lead by the 13-8 mark after UP committed an error touching the ball four times. Roxas, Eulalio, Samantha Dawson and Marie Toni Basas all scored for FEU, but UP punctuated the set with an error of their own, handing the win to FEU, 25-17.

 

SET SCORES: 26-24, 25-19, 25-17

— AD/RSJ, GMA News