Pikeville, Ky. - After a week off, the University of Pikeville Bears returned to action at home to face the Thomas More Saints Saturday afternoon and were defeated 3-0. 

Thomas More jumped out to an early 5-0 in the first set but the Bears answered with scoring eight of the next ten points to go up 8-7. The Bears continued to apply the pressure later on in the set and led 19-15. The Saints went on a 4-0 run to tie the set, but the Bears responded with a 3-0 run of their own. Tied at 23 shortly after, Alex Van Dyke recorded a kill to give the Bears an opportunity to take the set. However, the Saints scored three consecutive points to take the set 26-24. 

Emily Short got the Bears' first point of the second set with her first kill since 9/27, but the Saints still jumped out to a big lead. The Bears did get the score to 9-7 after a kill by Daniela Hernandez and an ace by Genesis Santiago Melendez, but could not cut into the lead any further and lost the set. 

Thomas More jumped out to an early 7-1 third-set lead. UPIKE found themselves trailing 23-10 late in the third set, but went on a run. The Bears scored four of the next five points to cut the lead to 24-14, but could not finish off the comeback. UPIKE dropped the third set and lost the match 3-0. Alex Van Dyke had two kills in the third set. 

Freshman Alex Van Dyke had a career-high four blocks today against the Saints. Van Dyke, along with Daniela Hernandez finished with four kills each. Cheyenne Martinez led UPIKE in kills (7) and assists (13). Mikela Cook had 12 digs today and now has 217 on the year. 

UPIKE will head north up to Portsmouth, Ohio for the battle of the Bears against Shawnee State Tuesday evening. 

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