PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- After two ultra-competitive sets to start the match, Cumberlands took control in the final two to beat the University of Pikeville volleyball team 3-1 on Tuesday night in UPIKE Gym.

The Patriots (14-15, 6-7 MSC) took the first set 25-18 before the Bears (9-20, 1-12 MSC) got even with a 25-21 second set. However, Cumberlands dominated the final two frames with a pair of 25-14 wins.

Noelani Simpson finished with a match-best 19 kills, but she got little help after that. Cecilia Ray tallied nine kills, Savanna Zakman had 32 assists and Cassie Jones sent back six blocks, but UPIKE was outhit .212 to .049 overall.

Megan Jackson led the Patriots with 15 kills and four blocks and Lynsey Short handed out 38 assists. Cumberlands' 7-3 advantage in aces also helped it pull away in the later stages of the match.

Things could have been different as it was tied 15-15 in the first set before an 8-2 Patriot spurt changed the outlook of the frame. Sure, the Bears evened things up in the next set, but it was hard to forget letting the first one get away from them.

UPIKE was never in the third set, trailing by as many as 12 points at 24-12. The fourth was a little different as Cumberlands led just 17-14 late in the frame. But, that would be were UPIKE's scoring stopped as the Patriots used an 8-0 run to finish things off with Jessica Severs on serve for the final seven points.

UP NEXT

UPIKE wraps up the regular season by hosting Life (Ga.) at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday in UPIKE Gym.  

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