PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- Liz Mann issued a match-best 19 kills for Life (Ga.), but in the end it wasn't enough to save the Running Eagles from taking their first loss against the University of Pikeville volleyball team in program history on Saturday.

With the win, UPIKE improves to 10-20 overall and 2-12 in the Mid-South Conference, while Life is 17-14 overall and 5-10 in league play. This was the regular-season finale for both teams with the MSC Tournament on deck next week in Bowling Green.

Mann's numbers were big, but she got little help. For UPIKE, it was a balanced attack with Noelani Simpson tallying 12 kills, Cassidy Tackett adding nine and Cassie Jones chipping in with eight. The Bears finished the match outhitting Life .164 to .151.

Eleven service errors nearly cost UPIKE the win, but a whopping three solo and 22 blocks assists made up for it. The 22 block assists are the most for the Bears since sending back 26 against St. Catharine in 2013. Amari Eadie led the way with one solo block and six assists.

Savanna Zakman handed out 37 assists, Natalia Gascot found 12 digs and Brooke Pickler and Simpson had three aces each to lead the Bears.

After trailing the opening set by three early, UPIKE took its first lead at 10-9 on a kill by Cecelia Ray and it never trailed again in the frame, instead leading by as many as four points at 15-11. The second frame was a big contract as the Running Eagles led by as many as eight points and never trailed in the set.

UPIKE bounced back nicely in the third set, going from a 14-14 tie to a 25-20 win after scoring 11 of the final 17 points. The fourth set started slow with Life taking a 6-3 lead, but once UPIKE took over 7-6 on an ace by Brittany Reels, it never looked back.

A 10-2 run made it 17-8 after a Life attack error and the Bears held on from there, despite a late Life rally. The Running Eagles got within four at 23-19 after a 5-1 spurt, but a kill by Gascot off serve receive and block by Eadie brought the match to a close.  

UP NEXT

UPIKE opens play in the MSC Tournament at 10:30 a.m. ET on Thursday against top-seeded and undefeated Lindsey Wilson at South Warren High School in Bowling Green.   

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