After such a feat, the Lady Blue Eagles will face its rival school De La Salle University (DLSU) with a twice-to-beat card on Thursday.

The rising star of Ateneo, Faith Nisperos, proved to be the strongest pillar of the team after pouring 23 points, two of which came from service aces in the first set.

But the Lady Tigresses did not back down and answered for a score after score scheme until getting the first crucial 20 while the Eagles were at 18. Yet the Katipunan-based squad seized the first set after a successful two-man block, 25-23.

UST started well in the second to get the upper hand against ADMU, 9-6 and as the latter closed at a tie of 12 Eya Laure dug an attack followed by a block of UST, 14-12. But that was not enough to cut the wings of Ateneo that finished at 25-23.

While Lady Eagle Vanie Gandler added 15 points which were powered by Jaja Maraguinot’s 15 excellent sets followed by Dani Ravena’s 17 excellent digs.

After a lost heist of the first and second set, UST fell short once again after Gandler’s attack from the outside before Nisperos’ two service aces in a row and the team’s block, 18-14.

Ateneo finished the game with a five-point advantage thanks to Nisperos’ winning point.