PIKEVILLE, Ky. – The University of Pikeville recorded 19 service aces and ended a five-match losing streak with an impressive 3-0 win over Bluefield State College Tuesday night.
 
The win opened a busy three-day stretch for the Bears, who visit Midway College on Wednesday night before hosting Alice Lloyd College and Johnson University on Thursday.
 
UPike got five aces from three different players, as junior Brooke Parrott, sophomore Paige Thacker and freshman Alexis Howard were brilliant in serve.
 
The Bears opened slowly and found themselves behind 13-10 in Game One before going on an 11-3 tear to record a 25-17 win. Game Two was all Pikeville, as the Bears scored six of the game's first seven points and posted leads of 11-2 and 17-3 before winning 25-7.
 
The Game Three score was knotted at eight before Pikeville scored three straight. The lead ballooned to 17-10 before UPike settled for a 25-19 decision.
 
Thacker continued her fantastic season with 12 kills. The Belfry product is second in the Mid-South Conference with an average of 3.3 kills per game. Junior Brittany Hodge followed with seven.
 
Parrott, a setter from Ashville, N.C., had 21 assists to go with her service aces.
 
Senior Shelbi White paced UPike on defense with seven digs.
 
Thursday's action begins at 2:30 at the Upike Gym when the Bears host Alice Lloyd. A junior varsity match follows, with Pikeville and the Evangels of Johnson University wrapping up the day at 6 p.m.
 
 
-UPIKE-