FAR EASTERN University kept its hopes alive in the UAAP Season 85 Women's Volleyball Final Four race by defeating Ateneo de Manila University, 25-21, 25-11, 22-25, 25-21 on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Lady Tamaraws improved to 6-6 and now need to win their remaining matches against University of Santo Tomas and Adamson University while hoping that at least one of the Golden Tigresses, the Lady Falcons, or National University loses all their remaining games to force a playoff for the fourth seed.
"Whatever the outcome, we're looking at our three remaining games, only two left because we already won this one," said FEU head coach Tina Salak.
"We really want to win the remaining three games. If we make it to the Final Four, that's a blessing, but right now our focus is to maximize our time in UAAP and win," the decorated setter-turned-coach continued.
After being dominated in the second set, 25-11, the Blue Eagles bounced back in the third set. Joan Narit made a quick kill and Faith Nisperos hammered a crosscourt shot to give Ateneo the set, 25-22.
However, in the fourth set, second-stringer Gerzel Petallo came alive, making three straight points to turn the score from a 20-all tie into a 23-21 lead before Ann Asis and Tin Ubaldo sealed the victory in the two-hour, 21-minute match.
Chenie Tagaod led FEU with 15 points on 12 attacks, two aces, and a block, while Jovs Fernandez contributed 12 points.
Alyzza Devosora tallied nine points, 11 receptions, and nine digs, while Ubaldo was a scoring setter with seven points on three spikes, two blocks, and two aces, along with 10 excellent sets.
Nisperos led the 4-8 Ateneo team with 20 points and eight digs. Lyann De Guzman and AC Miner scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, while Vanie Gandler was limited to only two points.
FEU will face UST next on Sunday at 11 a.m., while Ateneo battles De La Salle University at 3 p.m.