The NU Lady Bulldogs mounted a successful comeback to repulse the UST Golden Tigresses in a thrilling five-setter to end the first round of UAAP Season 87.
NU recovered from a set down to storm back against the UST Golden Tigresses, completing a first round sweep of UAAP Season 87 with a 23-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-18, 15-9 win at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.
The Lady Bulldogs pulled away late in the fourth set when they outscored the Golden Tigresses by five points, 12-7, from a narrow 13-11 lead to drag UST to a winner-take-all fifth canto.
Then in the fifth set, NU zoomed to an early 4-1 lead which ballooned into a six-point advantage, 12-6, after an Alyssa Solomon attack. It was initially called out before NU head coach Sherwin Meneses challenged the call.
In the review, it was found that Solomon was able to deflect her hit off of the hands of the UST blockers, which overturned the point in favor of the Lady Bulldogs.
But it was ultimately UST that shot themselves in the foot when Kyla Cordora committed a service error, putting NU two points away from the victory, 13-8.
Player of the Game Alyssa Solomon, who recently pulled out of the draft in the Korean V.League, provided the finishing blow with an off speed hit.
NU thus remains undefeated midway through the season at 7-0.
Solomon finished with 24 points while Bella Belen, who steadied the ship for NU in the earlier sets, finished with a triple-double of 19 points, 17 excellent digs, and 15 excellent receptions in the victory.
Vange Alinsug added 17 markers, 10 excellent digs, and seven excellent receptions.
Playmaker Lams Lamina had 33 excellent sets for the Lady Bulldogs as well.
UST, meanwhile, saw its 5-game winning streak snapped for a 5-2 record.
Reg Jurado top scored for UST in the losing effort with a double-double of 16 points and 16 excellent digs. She also had nine excellent receptions.
Angge Poyos finished with 13 markers, 10 excellent digs, and 15 excellent receptions.