Pikeville, Ky. - A new era for UPIKE volleyball began Tuesday night when the Bears downed Alice Lloyd 3-0 Tuesday night.  

The Bears got off to a fast start in the first set, scoring eight of the first 10 points. ALC got back in the set, scoring eight of the next 12 points. With the Eagles narrowing the gap to 12-10, UPIKE called a timeout. The Bears scored nine of the next ten points coming out of the timeout, led by Alondra Ayende with three kills. The Bears finished off the first set after a block by Marianne Negron and Oksana Vucetic to take a 1-0 set lead.  

The Bears picked up where they left off in the second set, jumping out to a 15-3 lead. UPIKE went on an 8-0 run that included three aces by Bella Blackburn. Alice Lloyd never got within ten points of the Bears in the second, and the Bears took the second set 25-14.  

After a back and forth third set, the Bears went on a 6-1 run to go up 16-8. After the Eagles called a timeout, the Bears continued to pour it on when they scored five of the next seven points. Senior setter Cheyenne Martinez made history in the third set, recording her 1,500th career assist on the game winning kill by Lanie Hawley.  

Martinez led the Bears with 29 assists and recorded four of the team's 18 aces. Sophomore Alondra Ayende led UPIKE with 14 kills while Kiara Warrens led the UPIKE defense with 14 digs.  

Coach Kern was happy with tonight's result, saying, "You can't win them all if you don't win the first one." Kern's squad will return to action Saturday for a quad meet against Virginia University of Lynchburg and Paine College. Game one against VU-L will start at 11 a.m.  

#BearDown