Far Eastern University strung up  back-to-back wins for the first time in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament after a 25-23, 25-19, 25-20 sweep of winless University of the East on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Gerzel Petallo lifted the Lady Tamaraws to a 3-2 standing with 12 points, all but one from attacks. Mitzi Panangin and Chenie Tagaod finished with 11 points each as Tin Ubaldo distributed 13 excellent sets.

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SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 volleyball tournament first round

“All the hard work was worth it, and this was a huge preparation for our upcoming games, especially our next one against Adamson,” coach Tina Salak said. “It’s also a big motivation for the team, and of course, we want to keep improving on what we lacked today because there were still a lot of lapses.”

After opening their campaign with a convincing four-set victory over University of Santo Tomas, the Tamaraws suffered two consecutive losses at the hands of University of the Philippines and defending champion National University.

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Chenie Tagaod and the FEU Lady Tamaraws. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net

FEU halted that skid with a victory against Ateneo in five sets over the weekend before blanking the Lady Warriors.

“We shouldn’t be lacking in any aspect, and we need to improve, especially on handling small balls against other UAAP teams,” Salak added. “We have to eliminate those kinds of errors.”

LIVE: UAAP Season 87 volleyball March 5 – UE vs FEU, UP vs UST

FEU was challenged early by UE, keeping it close in the opening frame but the Tamaraws gained more steam in the succeeding sets.

UE managed to keep up until 10-all in the third set before an 8-2 run by the Tamaraws capped by a quick by Panangin, 18-12. Tagaod scored off the block before Khy Cepada heated up to cut the Warriors’ deficit to just three.

Petallo nailed a cross-court hit followed by a Panangin hit. Petallo hammered a kill off the block as Ubaldo ended the one hour and 23 minute clash with an ace.

Cepada and Nessa Bangayan joined hands to lead the undermanned UE with 14 points each but it was not enough to prevent the Warriors from a fifth straight loss in as many games.

FEU aims to keep winning with Adamson up next after UE faces another tall order in La Salle, both on Saturday in the same Pasay City venue.