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PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Newcomer Haley Esquivel made sure the University of Pikeville volleyball team got off to a good start in 2013, tallying 10 kills, three digs, an ace and block in a 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 28-26) sweep of West Virginia Tech at UPIKE Gym on Wednesday.

It was a large and loud crowd on hand to see the transfer from Tollhouse, Calif., and her teammates win an exciting third set that went past regulation. UPIKE trailed 25-24 in the frame but got a service-error gift from Brianna Whaley to tie the score.

The Golden Bears emerged on top one more time in the set at 26-25, but the next three points went in UPIKE's direction with a Chelsea Staples kill, attack error from West Virginia Tech and the final blast from Esquivel that got the gym rocking.

Staples was incredible on the attack for the Bears, getting eight kills on just 13 attempts for a .538 hitting percentage. Sydney Hall added six kills and four blocks, while Rachel Murphy and Audri Ray added four kills each. As a team, UPIKE hit .150, compared to just -.024 from the Golden Bears.

Brianna Clark and Haley Pauley paced West Virginia Tech with eight kills each and Emily Cornelius finished with 11 assists.

Sydney Morris led the Bears with 22 assists, while Murphy and Dominique Melvin picked up six digs each. The serving of Morris was a huge boost as well with four aces.

Despite falling behind 2-0 at the start of the first set, it was UPIKE that set the tone the rest of the way. The Bears led 5-0 to open the second set and 4-0 in the third.

West Virginia Tech got within three points in the first set at 21-18, but would score just once more as a Golden Bear error gave UPIKE the 25-19 win. UPIKE led 23-14 in the second, but allowed a 4-1 run to make things interesting before a serve in the net gave it a 25-18 win.

UPIKE returns to action at Noon ET on Friday against Cumberland (Tenn.) at the Sewanee Invitational in Sewanee, Tenn.