Mental toughness served as the key that paved the way for National University to prevail over University of Santo Tomas in Season 87 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball tournament last Sunday.

Amid a roaring sea of yellow, the Lady Bulldogs put up a valiant stand to register a 23-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-19, 15-9 victory over the dangerous Lady Tigresses in a rematch of last year’s finals showdown.

Team captain Bella Belen said it wasn’t just their skills or teamwork that allowed them to pull off an impressive sweep of the first round.

“I’m very thankful for our supporters because even when we were down two sets, we never felt that they lost hope in us,” said Belen, who fired a team-high 19 points.

‘It didn’t really affect us negatively, but instead, it fueled our energy.’

“In return, we give back the same energy and support they provide us. We work hard to win these games not just for ourselves but for them as well.”

The UAAP is no stranger to intense crowd battles, but few schools can match the ear-splitting roars of the UST community. The signature “Go USTE” chant has become a staple across all sports, adding an extra layer of pressure for opponents.

But the Lady Bulldogs were unfazed. Having faced UST since their high school days at NU-Nazareth School, they were more than familiar with the deafening cheers.

“It didn’t really affect us negatively, but instead, it fueled our energy. UST’s crowd was incredible today, but thankfully, we’ve been hearing ‘Go USTE’ chants since high school,” Belen added.

The victory marked NU’s fourth consecutive win over UST, with their last defeat coming in the opening game of Season 86. Despite their dominance, the Lady Bulldogs acknowledge that every match against the Golden Tigresses presents new challenges.