PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- Despite leading by as many as four points in the second set and five in the third, the University of Pikeville volleyball team couldn't slow down West Virginia Tech enough to avoid a 3-0 loss inside UPIKE Gym on Tuesday.

West Virginia Tech (10-3) got 15 kills from Bailey Lotozo and 13 from Lauren McCall while outhitting the Bears (4-8) .287-.133. UPIKE failed to have an attacker reach double figures in kills as Noelani Simpson led the way with nine.

Savanna Zakman stook out for UPIKE with a double-double of 21 assists and 10 digs, while Brittany Reels chipped in with 10 digs as well. Amari Eadie and Cassidy Tackett played well on defense with five blocks each, but it wasn't enough to get past a Golden Bear team that started out hot.

When Ana Monteiro hit an ace to make it 23-10 in the opening set, it was the last point of a 9-0 run that turned a 14-10 advantage into a match-high 13 point lead. Tech went on to win the set 25-15.

UPIKE shot out to a 4-0 lead in the second set and 5-1 in the third, but the good early starts gave away to Tech comebacks in both frames. At one point in the second set, the Golden Bears went on a 5-0 run to take a 12-8 lead. Then when trailing 7-2 in the third they outscored UPIKE 7-2 over the next nine points to tie the set.

A win was still in reach for the Bears when they trailed just 22-21 in the third set, but they would only score one more points as Tech put the match away with a pair of kills by Lotozo.

UP NEXT

UPIKE hosts third-ranked Lindsey Wilson at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday in UPIKE Gym.

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