Action between UST and FEU in the UAAP Season 87 women's beach volleyball tournament, November 15, 2024 at the Sands SM By The Bay. UAAP Media

MANILA (UPDATED) -- University of Santo Tomas got off to a smashing start in its bid for a seventh straight crown in the UAAP women's beach volleyball tournament, Friday at the Sands SM By the Bay. 

The pair of Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella opened their Season 87 campaign with two comfortable victories, beating Far Eastern University's Lovely Lopez and Melody Pons, 21-16, 21-14, and Ateneo's Liz Lomocso and Grydelle Matibag, 21-17, 21-13.

While playing together in the UAAP for the first time, Pagara and Progella already have experience as a tandem as they are coming off a stint in the recently-concluded Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championship in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Progella took over the spot from last year's MVP Gen Eslapor, who has already graduated.

The Tiger Sands-Blue Eagles match saw the first meeting between former high school teammates Progella and Matibag, who teamed up in UST's first-ever girls beach volleyball championship last year.

National University's Honey Grace Cordero and debuting Kat Epa also recorded two wins to start the season on a high note.

Cordero and Epa made quick work of University of the Philippines' Euri Eslapor and Julia De Leon, 21-16, 21-14, before returning in the afternoon session with a 21-17, 21-18 conquest of Adamson University rookies Shai Nitura and Fei Sagaysay.

In other games, University of the East's Van Bangayan and Krisha Revilla outlasted Ateneo's Lomocso and Matibag, 21-18, 15-21, 15-11, while Adamson's Nitura and Sagaysay defeated La Salle's Sophia Sindayen and Ela Raagas, 21-6, 21-18.

Action resumes Saturday at 10 a.m. with six matches.

Also off to a strong start is the UST pair of Dominique Gabito and Alche Gupiteo in the men's division. 

They defeated Far Eastern University's Amet Bituin and Reynan Postorioso, 21-14, 21-9, and De La Salle's Andre Espejo and Von Marata, 21-5, 21-10, to open their bid for another championship.

National University's Alex Iraya and Sky Gemarino, the inaugural boys beach volleyball MVP, also had a winning start as the duo topped Ateneo's JM Yu and Amil Pacinio, 21-14, 21-14, and University of the Philippines' Angelo Lipata and Christian Pitogo, 21-10, 21-15.

Adamson University had its first win as Marc Paulino and Willie Hiltones nipped La Salle's Espejo and Marata, 22-20, 27-25

UP's Lipata and Pitogo emerged triumphant in the morning session, brushing off UE's Allen Buensalida and Julian Celestial, 21-8, 20-22, 15-9.

Action in the men's division resumes Saturday at 7 a.m.