LEBANON, Tenn. – The University of Pikeville volleyball team picked up a win and a loss in the season-opening Labor Day Volleydawg Classic on Friday.
 
The Bears knocked off Fisk (Tenn.) University in the opener before falling to homestanding Cumberland University.
 
Pikeville (1-1) will remain in the tournament on Saturday morning when it plays Tennessee Temple at 10 a.m. followed by a noon encounter with the University of the South. The first home match for the Bears will be held on Thursday when they open Mid-South Conference play against U.Va.-Wise.
 
That match will commence at 6:30 p.m.
 
Bears 3, Fisk 1: UPIKE handed Coach Shannon Gassman a win in her very first contest at the helm with a 3-1 decision over the Bulldogs.
 
After dropping the opening set 25-16, the Bears rallied to win 25-16, 25-21, 25-23.
 
Senior Brittany Hodge led all players with 11 kills in the win. Sophomore Taylor Watkins followed with seven. Freshman Chelsea Staples had half of her team's eight service aces while junior Stephanie Dounseroux handed out 24 assists.
 
On the defensive side of the net, Staples had a solo block and one block assist. Sophomore Samantha Ayres had 21 digs, while Dounseroux followed with 11 and freshman Haley Johnson added 10.
 
Cumberland 3, Bears 0: The tournament's host knocked off the Bears in straight sets by scores of 25-7, 25-23 and 25-16.the Bulldogs are returning to full-time status in the Mid-South Conference, although the contest will stand as a nonconference affair.

 
Hodge again was a force at the net, slamming home nine kills, while Watkins added eight. Dounseroux had 21 assists in the contest.
 
Staples had two of Pikeville's four block assists while Ayres had 10 digs. Hodge played well on both ends, adding seven digs.
 
 
-UPIKE-