LAURINBURG, N.C. – Freshman Lanie Hawley and sophomore Alondra Ayende combined for a block on the decisive point Thursday evening, giving the University of Pikeville volleyball team a 3-2 win over St. Andrews University in Appalachian Athletics Conference action.
 
The Bears took the five-set win 21-25, 25-15, 18-25, 25-17, 15-11.
 
In the opener, St. Andrews moved ahead 6-5 before the Bears scored six unanswered points. Hawley began the run with a kill; the Bears then scored the next five off her serves, having a service ace and benefitting from two kills by Ayende to take an 11-6 lead.
 
The lead was 16-13 before the Knights reeled off seven straight points to take control and win 25-21.
 
The Bears jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the second set on the strength of three service aces by freshman Lillie Carpenter. They went on to even the match with a 25-15 win. An 8-0 run for the Knights broke open a close game and put the hosts on the verge of a win when they took the third set 25-18.
 
UPike (5-2 overall, 2-2 in the AAC) settled down in the fourth set. It broke open a 10-10 tie again with Carpenter serving, with back-to-back kills from Ayende contributing to a four-point run that led to the 25-17 win, setting the stage for the deciding set.
 
The Knights scored four straight points early in the fifth set and took a 5-2 lead. Trailing 7-5, the Bears took the lead with four unanswered points of their own, finishing with another service ace by Carpenter. Leading 13-11, Ayende gave the Bears one final kill before teaming with Hawley for the match-winning block.
 
Ayende finished with a monster performance, having 19 kills, two assists and an ace on offense while finishing with 16 receptions, nine digs and two block assists on the defensive side of the net.
 
Junior Yaricel Rodriguez led the Bears with 20 kills as the Bears finished with 59 as a team.
 
Hawley, who had a solo block and three block assists, added eight kills.
 
Senior Cheyanne Martinez led the Bears with assists on 46 of the 59 kills. She added five kills of her own and finished with seven digs.
 
Carpenter had a career high six service aces to lead the Bears, who had 14 in the effort. Carpenter also matched Ayende's nine digs, which led the team.
 
St. Andrews (3-4 overall, 2-1 in the AAC) was led by senior Carmen Wright's 12 kills and freshman Olivia Kurtas with 11.
 
The Bears will return home Saturday for a long day of action that will see them play Salem International at 9 a.m., Warren Wilson College at noon and finish with a return matchup against Virginia-Lynchburg at 4 p.m.
 
The UPike Volleyball Invitational is sponsored by Steph's Uptown Swag, located in downtown Pikeville.