PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- Neither team could get a stronghold on the match, but UPIKE volleyball came up just a few points short against Rio Grande on Thursday night, losing 3-2 (20-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-23, 15-13).

The Bears (3-3) came out strong in the decisive fifth set with a 4-0 run thanks in part to a pair of Rio Grande errors and an ace from Hunter Clewis, but the Redstorm came back with one of their own to tie it up at 5-5.

The two teams stayed neck and neck until the 13-13 tie before two UPIKE errors handed the match to Rio Grande (1-2).

No set was decided by more than five points, and each team played into the other's hands by committing a combined 69 errors total across the match, 36 from Rio Grande and 33 from Pikeville. Five players had a negative attack percentage across the match.

Cassie Jones had her best match of the season, earning a match-high 12 kills on only 23 attacks with only one error.

UPIKE volleyball hits the road tomorrow to compete in the Milligan Madness tournament, where the Bears will face Midway at 2 p.m. and Asbury at 8 p.m.