By MARK REY MONTEJO
University of Santo Tomas has ruled out the high-leaping Xyza Gula for the upcoming UAAP Season 87 volleyball action, the school announced in a recent social media post.
Gula, who plays as an outside hitter, hurt her back during a practice last year which resulted in a displaced tailbone fracture.
According to the team, the third-year Gula managed to join the squad’s training camp in Japan last month but eventually opted to give her a break to recover from the injury.
The 5-foot-4 hitter will join Jonna Perdido, who is nursing an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, in the sickbay.
Perdido had an awkward fall in UST’s bronze-medal showdown against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in the Shakey’s Super League.
With their absence, the Tigresses will lean on Renee Peñafiel, Xyza Gula, Kyla Cordora, and Season 86 Rookie of the Year Angge Poyos as they hope to return to the UAAP finals.
Last season, the España-based crew concluded the preliminary round holding a 12-2 record – tied with National University – to earn a twice-to-beat advantage.
The Tigresses cruised past La Salle Lady Archers in the semifinal, but yielded in just two games against the back-to-back titlist Lady Bulldogs in the championship round.
