The FEU Lady Tamaraws cruised past the UST Golden Tigresses to stretch their winning streak to four and end their UAAP Season 80 women's volleyball first round campaign on a high note.
FEU bagged the victory in straight sets, 25-16, 25-22, 25-20, sending UST to its third straight loss.
No Lady Tamaraw scored in double-digits but six players produced at least five points. Chin-Chin Basas and Celine Domingo led with eight points each, while Bernadeth Pons and Kyle Negrito chipped in with seven markers apiece.
"The team displayed their maturity and chemistry on the court," head coach George Pascua proudly said after their fourth consecutive win. "In our first three games, our execution was not yet that smooth. But after we lost, we finally got our momentum."
FEU pounced on the multiple errors of UST to break away and comfortably win in the first period. The Tigresses continued to struggle in the second but they managed to keep it close towards the end.
Back-to-back hits from Carla Sandoval and Sisi Rondina made it 23-20, but an unfortunate miscue in the next play pushed their opponents to set point. Caitlyn Viray and Rondina kept their team alive until a net touch violation did them in.
The Lady Tams rode on their momentum in the first two sets to complete the sweep. They dominated the service line with 12 aces compared to only one of UST. They also got 29 free points throughout the contest off UST's unforced errors.
Sandoval paced the Tigresses with 12 markers, while Rondina was held to her season's lowest output of 11 points all built on spikes.
This victory put FEU on the second spot of the team standings with a 5-2 record. UST, meanwhile, dropped to seventh place with a 2-5 card.
"We need to prepare more in the second round. The competition will change, the level of intensity will be higher since all teams have already been scouted," said Pascua.
"We are not yet peaking because there are still things that we need to improve on. We'll take it one game at a time. I just told my players that they should not get tired of winning."