WOMEN’S titleholder University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University won back-to-back games to open their campaigns late Thursday in the UAAP Season 80 beach volleyball tournament at Sands SM By The Bay.
Cherry Rondina and Caitlyn Viray of the Tigresses rolled to a 21-9, 21-8 win over National University’s Roma Doromal and Audrey Paran, right after surviving De La Salle’s Tin Tiamzon and May Luna, 23-21, 19-21, 15-11, in the afternoon session.
The Tamaraws’ Bernadeth Pons and Kyla Atienza, second placers last year, scored a 21-8, 21-6 win over University of the Philippines’ Diana Carlos and Ayel Estrañero and a 21-8, 21-14 victory over Ateneo’s Bea de Leon and Jules Samonte.
The Lady Eagles later bounced back with a 17-21, 22-20, 15-10 victory over University of the East’s Judith Abil and Angelica Dacaymat to enter the win column.
The Lady Spikers also improved to 1-1 following a 21-14, 21-10 decision of Adamson University’s Bern Flora and Chrislyn Uy.
The Lady Maroons and the Lady Falcons, who bested the Lady Warriors (21-19, 21-13) and the Lady Bulldogs (21-18, 21-19), in the afternoon session respectively, fell at 1-1.
NU and UE fell at 0-2.
In the men’s division, UST kicked off its drive for a second straight championship with a come-from-behind 12-21, 21-15, 17-15.
NU outlasted last season’s runner-up FEU, 21-23, 21-19, 17-15, De La Salle nipped Adamson University, 24-26, 21-19, 15-12, while Ateneo posted the lone straight sets romp, a 21-13, 21-12 win over UE.