UNBEATEN University of Santo Tomas tries to match its finest start in 13 years as it faces winless University of the Philippines today in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Shooting for their sixth consecutive win, the Tigresses are not resting their laurels in the 2 p.m. match with the Fighting Maroons.

Struggling sides Adamson and Ateneo collide in the day’s other fixture at 4 p.m.

In the men’s division, UST hopes to end a surprising three-match losing skid against last-place UP at 10 a.m.

The Blue Eagles, coming off a stunning five-set reversal of the Golden Spikers that gave them solo fourth in the standings, tangle with the Falcons at 12 noon.

Behind prolific rookie Angge Poyos, UST logged a perfect 5-0 record highlighted by victories over the league’s previous champions National University and La Salle, and a gutsy five-set conquest of traditional rival Far Eastern University.

Although she is running second behind University of the East’s do-it-all newcomer Casiey Dongallo in scoring, Poyos displayed efficiency in attacking, leading the league with 43.93 percent.

Poyos is third behind her teammate Cassie Carballo in the service department with 0.40 average per set, and the 20-year old open spiker is among league’s top 10 in blocking.

But Poyos is simply focusing in helping the Tigresses in winning games.

“Yung mindset ko is maglaro lang at mag-contribute sa team. Iyon ang pinaka-importante. Hindi importante yung individual performance basta iniisip ko lang na mag-contribute, offense and defense,” said Poyos.

At 0-5, the Fighting Maroons are on their worst start since opening the 2013-14 season with six straight defeats.

It has been frustrating campaign so far for UP in coach Oliver Almadro’s first year, but there is a silver lining with it, as Niña Ytang continue to lead all comers in blocking, which will be UST’s one main concern.

As it alternated losses and wins after five matches, Adamson is looking for a victory to remain within the top four range. The Lady Falcons, who hold a 2-3 record in fifth place, seek to rebound from a 13-25, 22-25, 17-25 defeat to the Lady Tamaraws last Saturday.

Ateneo, for its part, sits in sixth place with a 1-4 card. The Blue Eagles suffered back-to-back straight-set defeats from the hands of the Lady Spikers and the Tigresses.