PIKEVILLE, Ky. – It was a tough return to conference play for the Bears on Friday as they fell in straight sets to Life, 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-22)

UPIKE was either ahead or close behind Life in each of the three sets before the Running Eagles pulled away.

The first set was especially rough for the Bears offensively, but they were able to find enough to cut a nine-point lead down to five before Life went on a 7-0 run to end the set.

Pikeville corrected its offensive issues a bit in the second set and was only behind 19-16 at one point. But Life repeatedly used one of its strongest tactics, its serves, to confuse UPIKE.

Life had 13 total service aces in the match by mixing up soft and hard serves to keep the Bears defense guessing.

It appeared the Bears were going to break through for a win in the third set and was ahead for a majority of it. Noelani Simpson had four of her team-high eight kills in the third set.

However, with the set tied 22-22, the Running Eagles scored three straight to close out the match.

Brittany Reels led the Bears with 11 digs and Leigh Johnson tallied 16 assists.

UP NEXT

The Bears have less than 24 hours before its next match, playing again tomorrow at 2 p.m. against Cumberlands (Ky.).

-UPIKE-