MANILA – Rookie spiker Erin Sotto powered the University of Santo Tomas Junior Golden Tigresses to a statement win in the UAAP Season 88 High School Girls’ Volleyball Tournament, sweeping the Ateneo Blue Eaglets, 25-10, 25-6, 25-18, yesterday at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.
The younger sister of former UAAP MVP Kai Sotto, Erin tallied 10 points off seven attacks and a block, while Negrense Kim Rubin chipped in nine points, including four service aces, to help UST notch its first victory of the season and improve to 1-1.
“Ni-remind lang sila kanina na ang kalaban nila dito ay ‘yung sarili nila. How they’re going to make decisions in crucial moments,” said UST assistant coach Lerma Giron, adding that the team’s seniors must take greater responsibility.
Giron added: “Sila ang dapat mag-lead, so ‘yung maturity pa sa ginagawa nila na akuin nila kung magkamali man, eh ‘di panindigan nila tapos bumawi.”
In other matches, defending champion NU-Nazareth School Lady Bullpups leaned on the brilliance of Negrense ace Diza Berayo to overpower De La Salle-Zobel, 25-15, 25-16, 25-17. Berayo finished with 10 points and six digs, highlighted by four aces in the third set, as NU surged to a 2-0 start.
Adamson University Lady Baby Falcons also kept their record spotless at 2-0 after crushing the UP Integrated School Junior Fighting Maroons, 25-12, 25-19, 25-11, behind Francheska Adem’s eight-point output.
Far Eastern University-Diliman, meanwhile, barged into the win column with a dominant 25-9, 25-17, 25-17 victory over University of the East. Aleah Devosora erupted for 21 points, 16 coming from service aces, while Janella Mangahis paced UE with eight markers./PN
