UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas displayed tremendous resiliency to preserve its immaculate record in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.

Undefeated in four matches, the well-conditioned Tigresses are enjoying their finest start since opening the 2010-11 season at 6-0.

A reverse sweep of traditional rival Far Eastern University, 22-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-7, before 5,869 fans who stayed up late Sunday evening at the Mall of Asia Arena showed the stuff that UST is made of.

The Tigresses unleashed their might and displayed boundless energy in the fifth, leaning on substitutes Xyza Gula and Mae Coronado along with rookie Angge Poyos in the decider, where the Lady Tamaraws, who charged to a 2-0 set lead and were ahead 16-12 going to the technical timeout in the third, simply ran out of stream.

“Medyo mabigat yung bakbakan. Ever since naman hindi nawawala yung rivalry ng UST at FEU. Pinaghandaan namin ito syempre high respect sa FEU. Ineexpect namin itong ganitong bakbakan luckily, nakabalik kami sa sistema namin at pinanghawakan naman ng player namin,” said coach Kungfu Reyes.

Poyos led the way for the Tigresses with 24 points, including two blocks, and an ace, five digs and five receptions, while Margaret Banagua had a match-best four blocks for a 15-point outing. Gula, who came in as a third substitute, rattled FEU’s defense with 12-of-23 attacks to finish with 13 points.

“Tinry lang po namin mabawi agad yung grit namin at aggressiveness sa court. Makikita naman sa first and second sets na wala talaga, seryoso lahat nawala yung enjoyment sa court,” said Gula.

Setter Cassie Carballo, who fired five of UST’s 11 service aces and tossed in 25 excellent sets, was able to get into the groove after a slow start.

“Sobrang thankful din ako na nandyan [teammates ko] for me kasi nung first and second sets, medyo nawawala ako. Ang tagal kong uminit, kumbaga. Sinabi ko talaga sa sarili ko na bumawi ng third, fourth, and fifth sets,” Carballo said.

“Ang dami pa naming kailangang i-polish talaga. Hindi pa namin naaabot yung standard na gusto namin at gusto ng coaches. Yun pa rin po yung tina-trabaho namin araw-araw.”

Coronado was also a game changer for the Tigresses, matching Carballo’s eight-point output as she delivered three blocks.

“Actually, ito na rin yung hinihintay ng bata gaya ng last pep talk namin, sabi namin kay Mae na hintayin lang yung tamang panahon at tamang oras at dadating din naman. Ito yung araw na yun,” said Reyes.

Up next for UST, which earlier defeated the league’s most recent champions in National University and Ateneo, is a duel with rebuilding Ateneo on Saturday at the bayside Pasay venue.